Posted on 01/12/2018 9:30:04 AM PST by Red Badger
THE US Navy will mount a laser weapon onto a top-class warship, defence officials confirmed.
Top Navy officials said the device is slated to be installed on the USS Portland by this autumn.
Crucially, the prototype will not be used in combat, but may pave the way for high-tech lasers that will be used during warfare.
Captain Brian Metcalfe said: “They’ve got what I call ‘power modules’ that control the laser that will just fit in those open and reserve weight spaces and then the laser itself gets bolted onto the deck.
“It’s not going to be integrated into the warfare system, it won’t be providing tracking data or classification data.
DESTROYER: The lasers could be used in conflicts in the near future
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“The ship’s going to go use the thing and then we’ll start talking about how do you make this part of the ship’s total systems.
He added: “But for now it’s a bolt-on, it’s designed to be a temporary thing.”
The US has pumped billions into its military and navy over fears it could go to war with China.
US-China relations boffin Zhang Yancheng said the countries’ tense relationship risked throwing the world into a harrowing nuclear conflict.
He said: “A key issue for 2018 is whether we can avoid international conflicts and confrontation, and the relationship between China and the US will largely decide if the world can move past the current globalisation interlude.”
His comment were made at a panel on the relationship between China and the US.
But the Trump could see his presidency end if he fails his upcoming medical test.
Trump, aged 71, will undergo his first presidential physical examination at the Walter Reed Medical Centre in Maryland later today.
Brit-speak...................
That’s because British English is a minority dialect of English. They hate it but it’s true.
They are Brits..................
Don’t get too excited. This is a test a beta. We will see if it can do anything
I thought I was the only one. I called it "fizzling". Now there's a word with some onomatopoetic value in it.
My question is can it stay focused while the ship is bobbing up and down?..................
President Clinton remained focused on the business of the American people while Monica Lewinski was bobbing up and down.
“Try it out on a few of the Somali pirates. Should be like toasting ants with a magnifying glass!”
Add marshmallows and make Somors!
I imagine... it can. Or at least that’s what they’re about to find out, whether it can or not. Sounds like pretty much of a prototype. Prob shouldn’t even be talking about it to the press.
Kinda hard to hide it.....................
Yeah, he stayed ‘focused like a laser beam’ on the economy...................
Cool...
I’ve always wanted for our navy to have a combat ship with frickin’ laser beams attached to its deck.
Yeah, fricken lazer beams attached to the prow of the ship... the concept is badazz.
Next up: SHARKS!.......................
bkmk
That’s a relatively easy to accomplish compared to the atmospherics issues
True. Fog would be a bigger problem.......................
Laser weapons are cool and all, but I think the future of naval warfare belongs to the hypersonic missile. By the time you detect it, it’s already too late.
Lasers hit a target over the horizon..........................
?................left off
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