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High-powered laser weapon destroys truck from 1 mile away in ‘seconds’
www.washingtontimes.com ^ | Friday, March 6, 2015 | By Douglas Ernst

Posted on 03/06/2015 7:08:05 AM PST by Red Badger

Lockheed Martin turned up the heat on its laser weapon technology and destroyed a truck from one mile away. The Maryland-based company’s test of the ATHENA laser weapon was the highest power ever recorded of a laser weapon of its type.

The Advanced Test High Energy Asset’s March 3 test destroyed its target in a “matter of seconds,” the company said in a statement. An image of the smoking vehicle accompanied its announcement.

“This test represents the next step to providing lightweight and rugged laser weapon systems for military aircraft, helicopters, ships and trucks,” said Keoki Jackson, chief technology officer of Lockheed Martin.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; Technical
KEYWORDS: defense; laser; laserweapons; military; wot
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To: C210N
1) This is still an R&D project, not a finished deployable system.

2) Stabilized Gimbal.

Enough said.

21 posted on 03/06/2015 7:25:32 AM PST by NorthMountain ("The time has come", the Walrus said, "to talk of many things")
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To: trebb

Fuel tank would be a better target than the engine. Less metal, more BANG....................


22 posted on 03/06/2015 7:25:35 AM PST by Red Badger (If you compromise with evil, you just get more evil..........................)
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To: central_va

That was a waste of a dang nice f-150


My first thought, why a Ford? sniffles

Try filing a claim on THAT.


23 posted on 03/06/2015 7:26:48 AM PST by txhurl
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To: Red Badger

They apparently wanted a ‘non-lethal’ alternative to stop oncoming vehicles.

Eff that. If you have a suicidal jihadi headed your way, you don’t want to disable their vehicle...you want to blow it to Hell in an expeditious manner.


24 posted on 03/06/2015 7:29:57 AM PST by hoagy62 ("Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered..."-Thomas Paine. 1776)
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To: Red Badger

This looks like one of those perfect conditions tests. How does it work in a sand storm or rain storm. Or on a moving platform...Someone mentioned what happens if the have a mirror mounted on the target?


25 posted on 03/06/2015 7:30:19 AM PST by McGruff (Maybe my comments were too nuanced for you)
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To: Poison Pill

Put me down for an XMLR 1A or 3A and a H.A.L. plus a VAMP jeep to haul it all.


26 posted on 03/06/2015 7:31:13 AM PST by wally_bert (There are no winners in a game of losers. I'm Tommy Joyce, welcome to the Oriental Lounge.)
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To: Poison Pill

Hey, just what you see pal...


27 posted on 03/06/2015 7:33:20 AM PST by shotgun
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To: txhurl

They probably have stock in Government Motors...


28 posted on 03/06/2015 7:34:48 AM PST by shotgun
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To: Red Badger

I thought they blew it up.


29 posted on 03/06/2015 7:36:02 AM PST by meatloaf
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To: Red Badger

Yes, I’ve seen the top deck stuff....what is below?....what is the plant? Power supplies and how portable?

I’d also like to know how much time on target it took to get the burn shown on the stationary truck?


30 posted on 03/06/2015 7:38:02 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: Red Badger
But, can they put that on a shark's head?


31 posted on 03/06/2015 7:40:09 AM PST by JRios1968 (I'm guttery and trashy, with a hint of lemon. - Laz)
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To: Calvin Locke

“I think the Russians have already polished MIRV warheads to try to avoid destruction by laser.”

The idea would be to hit the rockets in the launch phase before MIRV separation.


32 posted on 03/06/2015 7:45:47 AM PST by ScottfromNJ
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To: Red Badger

Did they let NBC run that test?


33 posted on 03/06/2015 7:47:02 AM PST by TangoLimaSierra (To win the country back, we need to be as mean as the libs say we are.)
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To: Red Badger

hwo many seconds? 2..20...200?


34 posted on 03/06/2015 7:51:56 AM PST by camle (keep an open mind and someone will fill it full of something for you)
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To: McGruff
Someone mentioned what happens if the have a mirror mounted on the target?

That mirror would have to be optically perfect to defect the beam. Not to mention that the surface would have to be kept completely sterile. Even the smallest imperfections/dust would absorb energy with the expected results.

35 posted on 03/06/2015 8:06:09 AM PST by uglybiker (nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-BATMAN!)
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To: Red Badger
Not everyone will get this, but I must:


36 posted on 03/06/2015 8:08:46 AM PST by Mich Patriot (Pitch black is the new "transparent.")
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To: McGruff; Gaffer
...based on early technology used against small airborne and sea-based targets.
37 posted on 03/06/2015 8:19:18 AM PST by Red Badger (If you compromise with evil, you just get more evil..........................)
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To: Mich Patriot

I don’t get it...................


38 posted on 03/06/2015 8:19:52 AM PST by Red Badger (If you compromise with evil, you just get more evil..........................)
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To: Red Badger

Make sure this was not an NBC report. There could have been six pounds of C4 planted under the dash.


39 posted on 03/06/2015 8:22:01 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: hoagy62

Bullets can have surprisingly little effect on an oncoming car. You’d be amazed what they can survive. Not to mention, if it really is just some idiot who can’t take a hint, it’s better not to splatter the driver’s and occupants’ brains all over the interior if this could do the job of halting the vehicle quickly.


40 posted on 03/06/2015 8:22:19 AM PST by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
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