Airborne Laser Completes Laser Ground Tests

Boeing ^ | December 12, 2005 | Maria McCullough

[festus]

Only a nose mounted turret ? Just launch the missles behind them ;-)

[familyop]

"...and could only deliver one-ninth the destructive energy per gram as a conventional bomb."

But kinetic energy... That's a very important difference, and the tool probably has a place. For each contractor to survive a theoretical exchange, others must also be successful. [g]

[familyop]

Pinging...

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Hmm... but what would happen if the enemy warhead [and the body of the missile, if need be] are given high quality mirror finish/coating? These would not degrade by themselves until burning off on re-entry, i.e. uncomfortably close to the intended target.

No, but it would make the missile look quite spectacular on radar, and that much more easier to knock down with something else (THAAD, etc).

[Texas Patriot]

That is a one of many reasons why the beam isn't truly continuous, the beam is actually pulsed, at a very high rate though, doing this actually allows for more energy to reach the target and do more damage during the engagement

[Turborules]

The Laser is constantly adjusted by high speed computer to adjust the focal point to the target...otherwise the beam is not as effective...just like a handheld magnifying glass must be sharply focused to light a fire...

[mdmathis6]

Could this shoot down conventional fighter craft...that sort of thing? If so, air wars are obsolete!

[Paul Ross]

Could this shoot down conventional fighter craft...that sort of thing?

Yes. More than that, it could also intercept Air-to-Air missiles...not just supersonic, but the upcoming next-generation hypersonic AA missiles.

If so, air wars are obsolete!

Uh, not quite. It is certainly a step forward. I would compare it's value to AWACs. It will seriously change the battlescape, and add an additional tool to the arsenal...that leverages all our others. But its still an early unproven prototype, and relatively "primitive" technology with limitations, i.e., the ability to stay airborne on station, within useful range, and operable...all of these factors perhaps impaired by weather...are all issues that need to weighed in every combat situation.

[mdmathis6]

These lasers could theoretically be ship based, correct and could knock down antiship missiles?

[Paul Ross]

Yes.

That is why the new generation DDX Destroyer/Cruiser is crucial. It is setting the Navy up to be able to deploy Directed Energey weaponry, from rail guns to lasers. This will allow the ships to be secure against the most-dangerous of aerial assaults.

This will then just leave the problem of torpedoes...