German Laser Weapon Can Shoot A Drone Out Of The Sky

MSN.now ^ | 24 December 2012

[zeestephen]

Or even hit a mortar round mid-air before it's had a chance to explode. The machine fires a 30 kW primary laser and a 20 kW secondary laser that can slice through a steel girder at about 1,000 yards.

[zeestephen]

[Flavius]

with or without sharks

[deweyfrank]

Good thing they’re on our side. Hope the bummer doesn’t change that.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Why is it perched atop porta-potties and refrigerators?

[BipolarBob]

“I’ll take a phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range”.

[muawiyah]

Those are portable field ovens (German joke)

[Seizethecarp]

Thanks for posting. I always follow drone stories (see my tag line).

From the “source” of the MSN story:

http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/23/3794814/rheinmetall-50kw-laser-weapon

This isn’t the first time that the company has demonstrated a turret-mounted laser weapon. Last year, a 10 kW version performed similar feats, and Rheinmetall says that it plans to produce a device capable of 100 kW output in the immediate future. Still, it faces competition from rivals in the space — as far back as 2010, US firm Raytheon demonstrated a 50 kW weapon with comparable capabilities, including the ability to shoot down a drone from a moving warship.

[going hot]

No one wants incoming when on the potty or raiding the frig, so shat is where they are the most needed.

[andyk]

Then I guess we can remove our bases and stop subsidizing their defense.

[chris37]

Hey just what you see, pal.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I was wondering who would be the first to mention the phased plasma rifle in a 40 watt range!

[ClearCase_guy]

Once all the Germans were warlike and mean,
But that couldn’t happen again.
We taught them a lesson in nineteen eighteen,
And they’ve hardly bothered us since then.

— Tom Lehrer

[bmwcyle]

I hope they use it against the French.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Then I guess we can remove our bases and stop subsidizing their defense.

Just imagine... we could have them guard the border with Mexico instead.

[Publius]

Tom Lehrer: "MLF Lullaby"

[BipolarBob]

They say there’s one in every crowd. This time it was me. Merry Christmas.

[tumblindice]

Die laser ausschneiden eine stihl girdle?

[PGR88]

With the Germans, there’s always the potential for them to kick some butt in Europe.