U.S. Navy Laser Weapon Shoots Down Drones

[thefinalfrontier]

In a grainy, black-and-white video that looks like a home movie of a UFO attack a sleek aircraft streaks through the sky one minute, only to burst into flames the next and plummet into the sea. The silent video, which Raytheon Co. debuts Monday at the U.K.'s Farnborough International Air Show 2010, however, is not science fiction.The defense contractor says it depicts part of a test conducted in May during which the U.S. Navy used a solid-state laser to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles over the Pacific Ocean.

Read more...

[Todd-11Bravo]

Pretty cool. I remember watching specials on lasers but they were far from making them weapons. But then again the military wouldnt put their secrets on the science channel.

[thefinalfrontier]

Pretty cool. I remember watching specials on lasers but they were far from making them weapons. But then again the military wouldnt put their secrets on the science channel.

Totally agree, Although I wouldnt be one bit surprised if the military complex already had this technology,

[Todd-11Bravo]

Totally agree, Although I wouldnt be one bit surprised if the military complex already had this technology,

yeah for sure.

[:PsYKoTiC:BeHAvIoR:]

Pretty cool. I remember watching specials on lasers but they were far from making them weapons. But then again the military wouldnt put their secrets on the science channel.

Definitely. The U.S. Government denying Area 51 for years is a prime example.

[Larving]

Even though I generally dislike when people consider weapons cool, I must say:

Cooooooooooooooooooooooool!

[pallidin]

I want one for duck hunting. That way it's pre-cooked.

[kobolds]

I wonder how they solved the power issue . that kind of laser required huge power, not to mention continues firing .

Edited July 21, 2010 by kobolds

[RamboIII]

now we can blow those pesky transformers out of the sky

[The Big Boss]

Well, you gotta admit it would be awesome to see one of these in action.

[the rebirth]

I wonder how they solved the power issue . that kind of laser required huge power, not to mention continues firing .

navy warships with nuclear reactors could likely provide that kind of power. thats probably why they have big cool laser beam weapons in the navy, but still dont have super awesome laser tanks yet. i want one.

*edit*

unrelated, but made me lol

i went to watch the video in the link and it played an ad before the actual video

the ad opened "theres something new blowing in the wind..."

it was an advertisement for "Siemens"

dont get the wrong idea. theyre creating green jobs.

Edited July 21, 2010 by the rebirth

[Spacetruckin]

The U.S. Laser weapons and targeting systems are so advanced this will inevitably make nuclear missiles obsolete since they will not be able to get anywhere near reaching a target. It seems the media missed this story.

Edited September 28, 2010 by Spacetruckin

[pallidin]

The U.S. Laser weapons and targeting systems are so advanced this will inevitably make nuclear missiles obsolete since they will not be able to get anywhere near reaching a target. It seems the media missed this story.

I don't know, seems there are counter-measures available.

A polished, laser reflecting skin on the missile is one.

[booNyzarC]

This technology is downright frightening if you consider the potential nefarious uses of such a thing. But there are also some positive applications. I could see something like this eventually saving humanity from an extinction-event sized asteroid. And it sure beats trying to use a magnifying glass for those pesky ants on the sidewalk like I tried as a kid!

Seriously though, that video with the UAV was a bit chilling. This tech in the wrong hands would be horrible.

[Sankaii1]

pardon me for being stupid, but does this kind of laser reflected by a mirror? If so, then that will be suck.

[pallidin]

pardon me for being stupid, but does this kind of laser reflected by a mirror? If so, then that will be suck.

Yes. Any laser beam, powerful or not, hitting a reflective surface seriously degrades it's effect on that surface. Sometimes to near zero.

[danielost]

I don't know, seems there are counter-measures available.

A polished, laser reflecting skin on the missile is one.

this would be a temp. fixed, which might give it time to get to target or not. a laser heats it target thus said metal would melt over time.

[pallidin]

this would be a temp. fixed, which might give it time to get to target or not. a laser heats it target thus said metal would melt over time.

One can not "laser-heat" an object by any substantial level if the target surface is reflective. To my understanding, that is.

[danielost]

One can not "laser-heat" an object by any substantial level if the target surface is reflective. To my understanding, that is.

ever touch a car that has been sitting in the sun in the summer. that isnt even a laser. like i said it may take time but it would melt the metal. of course if they make it a particle beam they wont need to worry about it. assuming we can do such a beam.

[booNyzarC]

ever touch a car that has been sitting in the sun in the summer. that isnt even a laser. like i said it may take time but it would melt the metal. of course if they make it a particle beam they wont need to worry about it. assuming we can do such a beam.

Lock Phasers! Fire!!

[Mr.United_Nations]

They are also testing a laser than warns of mobs in Iraq. It's invisable and it dosn't do much damage. it said that it will make a small burn mark to scare them away and will be soon equpied to Humvees in like 2013. Laser warfare has arrived.