Posted on 08/09/2002 5:17:48 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
08/08/02 - KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots here are honing their laser firing skills against airborne targets while flying their aircraft -- without ever leaving the ground.
Pilots are using the high energy laser fighter simulator, an F-16 simulator modified to integrate a high energy laser weapon model into an F-16's program.
The simulator evaluates design parameters for an actual high-energy laser weapon system and helps an operator get familiar with a directed energy weapon system, according to Rudy Martinez, Air Force Research Laboratory directed energy directorate strategic planner. The system can also be used to develop tactics and a concept of operations.
"It's imperative to have a better understanding of what lasers can do for our fighter pilots," said Col. Mark Stephen, directed energy directorate deputy director. "By providing the warfighter with the best technology, we ensure the protection of the flyer and better defense for our national interests."
Air Force research laboratory officials are funding and developing the high energy laser fighter simulator in conjunction with Theater Aerospace Command and Control Simulation Facility experts. Lockheed Martin, working with the other agencies is currently investigating the use of the high energy laser on the Joint Strike Fighter, according to Martinez.
Currently, pilots from the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing provide feedback to the simulator's developers.
"Their comments and suggestions on a variety of issues facing this new weapon system are integrated into the development," Martinez said.
One simulator model is capable of air-to-air engagements while the other simulates air-to-ground engagements, he said.
"The realistic models include atmospheric transmission losses, target lethality engagement parameters and laser system limits and ranges."
According to Martinez, the ultimate goal is to have the simulator participate in war games to determine the utility of using a high energy laser against conventional warfare weapons. The simulator is scheduled to be ready for system evaluation this year. (Courtesy of Air Force Material Command News Service)
Seriously, it's very interesting.
By Michael Sirak, JDW Staff Reporter, Washington DC
The US Air Force and Missile Defense Agency are poised to begin flying the first Airborne Laser (ABL) test aircraft.
Loitering at altitudes around 40,000ft, the ABL system is designed to destroy boosting ballistic missiles with a multi-megawatt laser beam that travels at the speed of light over great distances.
The high-energy beam, which will be about the diameter of a basketball, will heat the side of a missile until it fails structurally and tumbles to earth. Ideally, ABL programme officials say, the missile, along with its payload, will land on the territory of those who launched it.
That would be. . .China. . .Iraq. . .North Korea. . .Iran. . .The Anus of Evil and Its Axes.
Cool stuff.
...........and can photon torpedoes be far behind? :)
Iraqi candidates for ~8 kW/cm2 to their abdomen.
Congressional Testimony of Lt. Jack Daly, USN
Congressional testimony of Lt. Jack Daly, USN, on February 11, 1999.
Lt. Daly was wounded by a laser fired from a Russian spy ship in U.S. territorial waters on April 4, 1997.
Lt. Jack Daly is a U.S. Naval intelligence officer who was wounded by a laser fired from a Russian spy ship in United States territorial waters in the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Washington State and Vancouver Island, Canada, on April 4, 1997. His Canadian helicopter pilot, Captain Patrick Barnes, was also wounded. Both have suffered permanent eye damage. The spy ship was tracking the American submarine U.S.S. Ohio.
Links to Gertz reporting and Duncan Hunter's committee testimony.
I'm really ignorant about such things, but couldn't shielded helmet visors defeat these?
excellent & scary point- what about a bunch of printer/mini-tower sized boxes lined up w/line of sight for a road/pass/choke point, computer controlled mirrors nutating to send pulses from 1.5/6.5 feet above the ground...or on the reverse military crest? our guys are walking along, looking for targets...their vision fades out. Scary.
It looks so farcical I can't help but laugh - but I suppose they could pose a threat if we captured them.
Shoot first....don't let them too close. At best they smell bad, at worst they blow up. Its all kind of a hoot.
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