Airborne Laser

[tomahawk6]

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/08/will-new-laser.html

Boeing announced today the first ever test firing of a real-life ray gun that could become US special forces' way to carry out covert strikes with "plausible deniability."

In tests earlier this month at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser -- a modified C-130H aircraft -- "fired its high-energy chemical laser through its beam control system. The beam control system acquired a ground target and guided the laser beam to the target, as directed by ATL's battle management system."

"By firing the laser through the beam control system for the first time, the ATL team has begun to demonstrate the functionality of the entire weapon system integrated aboard the aircraft," Boeing exec Scott Fancher said, in a statement.

But what Fancher didn't mention (and what I explore over on the New Scientist web site) is that this capability will allow Special Forces to strike with maximum precision, from long distances -- without being blamed from the attacks. "Plausible deniability" is how the presentation put it.

The claim that a laser strike could be carried out without attribution appears in two separate briefing documents by Air Force personnel, describing the benefits of the new directed energy weapon.

 

[Captain Coffee]

Twice as cowardly!

Once because they can attack people who are so far away they never know it's coming and can't fight back.  Twice because they can pretend it wasn't them that did it.

IMHO completely F'n disgusting! 

 

[aesop081]

Once because they can attack people who are so far away they never know it's coming and can't fight back. 

And that is different than dropping a JDAM from high altitude how ?

 

[Captain Coffee]

And that is different than dropping a JDAM from high altitude how ?

I guess the plausible deniability would be the same as well.  Well, just because it's already done doesn't mean it's right.

 

[aesop081]

Good point, it's not.  I'll expand my statement to include them too.

I guess the plausible deniability would be the same as well.  Well, just because it's already done doesn't mean it's right.

I think maybe you need to rethink your employment then......

 

[Captain Coffee]

I think maybe you need to rethink your employment then......

It's more the deniability which digusts me.  If we're going to war with someone, go to war.

 

[tomahawk6]

War isnt run by Marquis of Queensbury rules. You find and destroy the enemy period. You definitely dont give the enemy advanced warning of your intentions. As for plausible deniability when vehicles start melting and people are bursting into flames the bad guys either know its us or allah isnt happy with them.

 

[aesop081]

It's more the deniability which digusts me.  If we're going to war with someone, go to war.

Thats rather naiive dont you think ?

 

[Snafu-Bar]

Snipers with better toys.  :

 

[Captain Coffee]

Not naive. Maybe a bit altruistic.  I know it's sometimes desirable to kill someone without taking the blame for it, doesn't mean I think it should be done.

 

[Captain Coffee]

War isnt run by Marquis of Queensbury rules. You find and destroy the enemy period. You definitely dont give the enemy advanced warning of your intentions. As for plausible deniability when vehicles start melting and people are bursting into flames the bad guys either know its us or allah isnt happy with them.

lol I was just going to say that not many nations have tank melting lasers, so where's the deniability?  ;D

 

[a_majoor]

Perhaps Capt Coffee should switch to decaf.

Weapons have increased in speed and power since the Stone Age; when you had a chance of seeing the rock coming towards your head. Spears launched by an atlatl must have seemed pretty unfair to Ugh as he got skewered.

Laser weapons are the ultimate evolution of that line of development; they strike at the speed of light, essentially ending any sort of issues with aim off, leading the target or windage. Unless someone knows something really freaky about the laws of physics, I can't imagine anything better.

Laser weaponry also fulfills another trend in Western warfare; the proportional application of power. You could get similar effects from smart bombs coming from high altitude, or hypersonic missiles ("falling a mile a second, absolutely and forever without a sound...."), but then you have to deal with collateral damage, sometimes pretty extensive damage.

Now, I won't be too happy if it turns out that I am the target of a laser weapon, but the bad guys already have lots of overt and covert ways to strike me dead, so this is just one more tool in the kit bag.

 

[aesop081]

Not naive. Maybe a bit altruistic.  I know it's sometimes desirable to kill someone without taking the blame for it, doesn't mean I think it should be done.

Maybe we should just go back to hand-to-hand combat then ?

 

[Snafu-Bar]

Pinpoint accuracy, minimal intrusion and collateral damage. What's not to like in this system? (except it's not canadian) Attackers get a clear view of thier target and pick him off. Innocents are left out of the altercation and everyones happy (at least those on the giving end) Flying sniper squadron, forget the black sheep this is the stuff seagulls are made of.  ;D

Cheers.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I think it would be easy to sell to the public as a 'low carbon footprint' option for the forces. I'm just waiting for the first charge to be laid against the 20 year old laser gunner to sign his/her name in the side of a mountain with the thing ;D

 

[adaminc]

I wonder how quickly this weapon would kill a person if it hit them directly. I also wonder what kind of damage it would do to a vehicle or a tank. Would the people inside be killed instantly, or would they cook like in a oven.

 

[ironduke57]

...

Interesting target.

Should I build a bunker?

Regards,
ironduke57

 

[Timmy!]

Some how this reminds me of the topic. Sorry for the hijack.  ;D




Sharks with fricking laser beams attached to their heads!

 

[a_majoor]

And now ground troops can shoot back (but that is one huge platform...)

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/08/army-moves-ahea.html

Army Moves Ahead With Mobile Laser Cannon

By Noah Shachtman August 19, 2008 | 12:06:07 PMCategories: Lasers and Ray Guns 
The Army is moving head with plans to mount a laser cannon on a massive, 31-ton-plus truck.

The service just handed Boeing a $36 million contract to "continue developing a truck-mounted, high-energy laser weapon system that will destroy rockets, artillery shells and mortar rounds," according to a company statement.

Under the High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator (HEL TD) Phase II contract, awarded Aug. 15, Boeing will complete the design of, then build, test and evaluate, a rugged beam control system on a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck. Boeing also will develop the system-engineering requirements for the entire HEL TD laser weapon system.

About a year ago, the Army asked Boeing and Northrop Grumman to work up preliminary designs for the HEL beam control system -- and promised to choose a winning model by 2009. So the program appears to be on track. And it's one of a number of energy weapon projects that have been picking up steam, after deacdes of unfulfilled promise. Relatively easy-to-deploy electric lasers have just about worked their way up to weapons-grade. Boeing recently test-fired the real-life ray gun on its Advanced Tactical Laser -- a blaster-equipped gunship.  Raytheon has worked up a prototype of its  Phalanx mortar-shooter, already deployed in Iraq, that uses fiber lasers, instead of traditional ammo, to knock down targets. Even the eternally-delayed Airborne Laser -- a modified 747, designed to zap ballistic missiles -- may finally get a long-awaited flight test.

 

[tomahawk6]

The laser is going to need alot of power and I think that will be a huge limitation in how it can be employed.