Posted on 05/05/2019 4:55:54 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
An early test of an experimental system that serves as the precursor to a fighter jet’s laser weapon successfully shot down multiple air-launched missiles last month, the Air Force Research Laboratory said Friday.
The Air Force’s Self-Protect High-Energy Laser Demonstrator program, known as SHiELD, on April 23 reached a key milestone when a ground-based test asset completed a series of tests at the Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The Demonstrator Laser Weapon System downed “several air-launched missiles in flight,” according to an AFRL release that did not specify which missiles were used. While it was vetted on the ground, more mature versions of the laser will go through airborne testing.
“The demonstration is an important step of the SHiELD system development, by validating laser effectiveness against the target missiles,” the laboratory said. “The final SHiELD system, however, will be much smaller and lighter, as well as ruggedized for an airborne environment.”
SHiELD aims to create a podded laser weapon for the F-15 that is powerful enough to protect the aircraft from incoming surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. A high-power flight demonstration is expected by fiscal 2021.
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman are each under contract for different parts of the laser development, including a beam-control system, the laser itself, and the pod that holds it.
The Air Force has also considered trying out the pod on mobility aircraft, and in January said it is already thinking about more powerful ideas that could come after SHiELD.
Normally the chicoms would wait for us to develop & test something before stealing the design specs...
That would be amazing & weird, to do away with flares and ACM totally.
Hillary woulda sold it to them.
How many engines will be dedicated to powering one laser?
To show that he is less tainted, hussein would have given it to them.
“The last time I trusted a laser system, I lost an eye.” — said someone
The true fun is hitting multiple targets with multiple photons bursts
SHIELD. Wasn’t that Nick Fury’s outfit?
How do you know that they don’t have it already?
The F-35 was designed to be able to power this class of weapon. Russian high off-bore missiles are deadly. This kind of defensive weaponry flips the equation.
Cartoon and science fiction slip into the realm of reality. Wonder what realm of reality shall fact be ??? Or shall reality slip into the realm of cartoon / science fiction ??? And then what is impossible ??? I’m leaning toward yes to your question and “unknown” as answer to posed.....
Do not look into laser with remaining eye!
One kilowatt output should be more than enough to take down a missile.
Assuming 30% efficiency for the laser you would need a 3-kilowatt generator.
I don’t think you would need a separate engine to power an on-board laser weapon.
But unknown is how heavy the laser will be. Will you need more powerful engines to lift the extra weight or will you have to leave other ordnance on the ground to carry the defensive laser.
If they are posting information on this , rest assured they have been fine tuning it for a decade or more . Military never shows its hand until they have the current trump weaponry and they are onto working on the next better thing ...I served 85-93 at Ft Lewis just below McChord ...they have since merged.
Supposedly the F-35 would use the lift-fan PTO to power the laser, so the F-35B wouldn’t carry the laser. The ‘A’ and ‘C’ models would be capable.
Have you ever had that dream where youre standing on top of a pyramid in sun god robes and there are thousands of naked women throwing those little pickles at you?
Laser cats would of been cheaper
I dreamed I was in my Maidenform bra.
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