Meh, drones with regular old guns and bombs are surely going to be more practical and versatile.
If lasers were in a usable state for warfare, we’d be putting them on all our ships and tanks first, not bothering with drones. This is a publicity stunt, I think, to drum up funding for more military laser research.
Drones with guns and bombs are going to be more vulnerable. So are manned aircraft.
If lasers were in a usable state for warfare, wed be putting them on all our ships and tanks first, not bothering with drones.
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Go to the article. They have a video of a ship with a 30kw laser.
Roger that. 150KW is a lot of power. What's going to generate it, or store it? That will weigh a fair bit, how will the drone get it, a laser, itself, and a fuel supply for itself in the air?
We ARE putting them on our ships. And as for putting them on tanks... they are line of sight so it is better to have them in the air anyway. Also shooting a bunker with a laser is not as effective as shooting it with a cannon. Aircraft are not insulated with cement.