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Science & Technology

Laser guns on ships 'within 4 years'

By T.K. Randall
April 1, 2012 · Comment icon 29 comments

Image Credit: Daniel Schwen
Senior Navy technologists have claimed that working laser cannons will be in service very soon.
Laser weapons have been a staple of science fiction for decades, but now it seems that technology has finally caught up. Mike Deitchman of the Office of Naval Research oversees the development of future weapons and claims that the new lasers will be able to target everything from cruise missiles to enemy boats. In only a few months time defense contractors will be offered the chance to bid on the contract to build the new weapons.
The dream of sailors, nerds and sailor-nerds everywhere is on the verge of coming true, senior Navy technologists swear. Within four years, they claim they’ll have a working prototype of a laser cannon, ready to place aboard a ship.


Source: Wired | Comments (29)

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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #20 Posted by TattooMan 12 years ago
lol That's crazy, never knew there was so many different crazy places to live lol! You are a military man as well? What branch??? Air Force.... I've been to a lot of crazy places, believe me. But, I believe ignorance is pretty much wide-spread. Some places are worse than others and in different ways. I always tell everyone, I can deal with a little BS, but I have no tolerance for stupidity....lol. lucky me.... i,m a member of the dumbest species on earth....lmao.
Comment icon #21 Posted by ColoradoParanormal 12 years ago
Air Force.... I've been to a lot of crazy places, believe me. But, I believe ignorance is pretty much wide-spread. Some places are worse than others and in different ways. I always tell everyone, I can deal with a little BS, but I have no tolerance for stupidity....lol. lucky me.... i,m a member of the dumbest species on earth....lmao. Ahh a Zoomies man eh? Right on.
Comment icon #22 Posted by csspwns 12 years ago
kewl now we can start another war! T.T
Comment icon #23 Posted by Finity 12 years ago
These have actually been around for a while now in testing. I saw a video years ago of a lazer shooting down a target drone with the intention of making it some sort of anti-missile weapon. They are really expensive to make, but as they don't use ammo the pay for themselves eventually.
Comment icon #24 Posted by skookum 12 years ago
I imagine these have been chosen as naval weapons as they will need considerable electrical power to work?
Comment icon #25 Posted by Sundew 12 years ago
I remember reading years ago that LASER weapons could be thwarted by mirroring the surfaces of ships, rockets, etc. Or in the case of a rocket, making it spin to attenuate the heat produced by the LASER. Since light colors reflect light and dark colors absorb light, it might only take painting something stark bright white to offer some protection against such weapons, but I may be way off base here not knowing current technology.
Comment icon #26 Posted by Hybrid89 12 years ago
All this about Laser cannons and what not. Yet how much time and/or effort is put in to a stable future? Im no expert but there are still people out there with no clothes, no food, no fresh clean water and are rather sick to boot. Instead of making and discovering new ways to blow each other up. Why not put more resources into finding a new form of energy and ending the pain and suffering in 3rd world countries as well as putting real effort into sorting out the the financial, no job etc etc. aka recession. Im sure a few of you are aware of Irelands situation. Anyway, things will never change.
Comment icon #27 Posted by Bavarian Raven 12 years ago
I find it interesting how much prospect of future weapons we have but no prospect of feeding everyone. how about 0 weapons till every man , woman and child is clothed, educated and provided for? i gotta laugh at people who think like this. without said weapons/defense whats to stop someone else from taking your food and clothing and homes, etc (sure, the US is a bit overboard on this point), but the point still stands. besides - without a little threat of death from your neighbours/surroundings, we'd still be living in caves/huts. better money spent on this then having tech. development stagna... [More]
Comment icon #28 Posted by Stellar 12 years ago
I remember reading years ago that LASER weapons could be thwarted by mirroring the surfaces of ships, rockets, etc. Or in the case of a rocket, making it spin to attenuate the heat produced by the LASER. Since light colors reflect light and dark colors absorb light, it might only take painting something stark bright white to offer some protection against such weapons, but I may be way off base here not knowing current technology. The mirroring would have to be tailored to the wavelength of the laser itself. Each "layer" in a surface essentially has a certain reflection and transmission coeffic... [More]
Comment icon #29 Posted by and then 12 years ago
All this about Laser cannons and what not. Yet how much time and/or effort is put in to a stable future? Im no expert but there are still people out there with no clothes, no food, no fresh clean water and are rather sick to boot. Instead of making and discovering new ways to blow each other up. Why not put more resources into finding a new form of energy and ending the pain and suffering in 3rd world countries as well as putting real effort into sorting out the the financial, no job etc etc. aka recession. Im sure a few of you are aware of Irelands situation. Anyway, things will never change.... [More]
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