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.
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?
~~~~~~~~
HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!! AAHHAHAHAHAHAH!
Ahh...no I’ve been missin’ out on that one....is it because I’m a woman? That’s probably it, right? LOL~
If an air based laser can be made that can take out a missile then it wouldn’t be difficult for a land based laser to take out an aircraft.
Good point!
No, but I once saw a cockroach
with a wooden leg kick a hole
in an anchovie.
The old recurring gherkin dream
Now if we can figure out how to attach them to the heads of sharks, we’re all set.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.