Posted on 02/12/2010 3:29:37 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
An excellent demonstration of the potential of HEL weapons. Even better than shooting down mosquitoes!
On the downside this program could divert money better spent on ACORN projects./s
I wonder if it works on people..
If you have a big enough targeting mirror and powerful beam
Hmmm. No comments so far on the range or the size and speed of the target.
I’ll give him his due, this development and testing has continued on his watch.
One of my favorite movies
“Ill give him his due, this development and testing has continued on his watch.”
Let’s just hope that the laser R&D hasn’t just been devoted to improving Obama’s super-human ability to swat flies (documented here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rbUH_iVjYw):
Watch a laser gun kill mosquitoes
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10452992-71.html
Probably a standard target missile. Range is the biggie, though... and we're not likely to be told that.
In the beginning of development I remember reading of a posted kill range of 200 miles. Whether true or not, actual range will be governed by a number of factors such as altitude, airborne particulate count, type of missile and so forth. Was the missile a solid fuel or liquid fuel?
Special Ops guys would love it.. Speak to the tribal elders, call down the wrath of god, have Taliban members dissolve in a pillar of fire. Talk about hearts and minds.
The real fun begins when the solid state electrical lasers hit the 100KW+ level with the requsite cooling to go with it. They have a free electron laser down to a length of <20' and approaching 100KW of power. Deploying one of these on a ship gives a battle group some serious fleet defense against ASM. I saw some reporting stating that the F-35 had the electrical generating power to support a solid state laser once the cooling issues are resolved.
Aviation week says it was a short range ballistic missile. So the size of the target was probably fairly small. Speed of the target would depend on when it was engaged. ABL engages during boost, so the target is accelerating all the time. So sooner would be better, lower speed. However, letting it climb up out of the thick atmosphere might be a good idea, or get above a cloud deck etc.
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