The USN has been at the forefront of the military services in pursuing recent advances in directed energy weapons. It’s a shame the Air Force has fallen behind. Hopefully they will see the “light”.
There are a lot of open questions (which I hope we don't get answers to; OPSEC is important) regarding how the system operates and what it can achieve. I think that at least in terms of countering small inundating threats (drone swarms), this may become increasingly necessary though.
Yes, I've seen videos of the development of systems like this ages ago. They can even lock onto things like suicide boats and melt the engine leaving the crew alive.
Actually that’s not true. You can do things to counter such environmentals. You can use a reference laser to ‘map’ the fog or cloud or rain and then vary power , wavelength and model refraction to bring POA back. HEL-MD demonstrated this ten years ago.
Sure you could try to counteract those conditions, like you could do, when you choose a grenade launcher instead of a bullet to shoot someone.
But still you end up with a much heavier laser system to have the same effect.
Americans and their top heavy designs, all that tech on top, advisory, enemies will aim for the base of this weapon, and I suggest it rest on a gyro that can be aimed
I am not sure how effective this may be against missiles, but I think this sort of system will become increasingly important for countering drone swarms.
Is it really? I had it from a generally reliable contact on LinkedIn, but I guess anyone can mistake something, especially in a grainy video. Where do have it from that it's generated, just out of curiosity?
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Practically an ancient elder of the internet
Spoiler alert: it won't
Lasers are good in perfect conditions without fog or strong rain.
The image shows the beam, but usually if you can see the beam, then there is atmosphere weakening the laser.
When there’s waves?
These are the weaknesses of every laser.
Too much energy loss on the way to the target.
But still you end up with a much heavier laser system to have the same effect.
Laser weapons: the ultimate form of "blow your matches, boys!"
I am not sure how effective this may be against missiles, but I think this sort of system will become increasingly important for countering drone swarms.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/innovation-vdg_the-us-navy-has-released-footage-of-the-uss-ugcPost-7292312981743239168-23Wx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEFwcIIBWpc-DlWop2kd-9RH2NLVk1mu9T8
Why would someone make an AI-generated video of that though? Just confuses things unnecessarily.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS