[bikeron]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/04/13/navys-laser-test-heat-pirates/

 

[Mike]

Some of the land based versions have been testing for a few years now.

 

[Daren71]

And airplanes for awhile as well.

 

[cheveslakr]

Sweet, I knew 1966 would happen sooner or later.

 

[Xtreme70SS396]

I don't understand why the couldn't just shoot the damn thing. Loads cheaper, and a bullet will go right through a mirror.

 

[Bowtie70ss]

Seems like a missile would be cheaper and more portable.

 

[Sid Coleman]

Trouble is having time to hit a sea-skimming target moving toward you at Mach 3+. Remember, horizion at sea level is only 12 miles. How fast can you cover that at 2000 mph?? Only seconds. Missiles & guns take time to get oriented, plus the anti-missile guns only have about a 2000 yard range. By the time they start shooting, it's here! And the missiles (Sea Sparrow or RAM) are beam riders-so it has to be line-of-sight. Lasers are light speed weapons, so it eliminates the range and accuracy errors of a high speed closing target. Wish I had a chance to play with that system :thumbsup: I did work on the Phalanx...fun stuff

 

[Sid Coleman]

Sweet, I knew 1966 would happen sooner or later.

Didn't ya just love the analog clocks on the Enterprise

 

[Shane 69 Hugger]

There are really good versions of this laser. I believe it's called THELM.

The electronics shop I'm in charge of works on small lasers devices but nothing like this...

 

[novaderrik]

i wonder if they tested it out by using it to pop enough popcorn to fill up a house?

 

[Xtreme70SS396]

Trouble is having time to hit a sea-skimming target moving toward you at Mach 3+. Remember, horizion at sea level is only 12 miles. How fast can you cover that at 2000 mph?? Only seconds. Missiles & guns take time to get oriented, plus the anti-missile guns only have about a 2000 yard range. By the time they start shooting, it's here! And the missiles (Sea Sparrow or RAM) are beam riders-so it has to be line-of-sight. Lasers are light speed weapons, so it eliminates the range and accuracy errors of a high speed closing target. Wish I had a chance to play with that system :thumbsup: I did work on the Phalanx...fun stuff

True - but the article and test was about hitting an outboard motor on a skiff used by pirates.