Laser cannons getting closer

[Anubis]

I always enjoy reading articles like this about future-stuff-in-work/being-toyed-with. This time it's future weapons, including a nice blurb on laser cannon progress.

Also of interest, though slightly in the odd department, is a orbital platform with huge tungsten rods that can be dropped on targets from orbit. Perfect for leveling buildings and bunkers.

Anwway the laser piece:

A LASER CANNON THAT BLASTS FROM THE AIR

Directed-energy weapon specialists at the Air Force Research Laboratory are close to overcoming the two main hurdles that have confined laser weapons to science fiction for the last half-century. Tests by lead contractor Boeing have demonstrated that the laser has enough power to function as a weapon, and that the chemical exhaust, which could pose a considerable threat to the weapon's operators and individuals on the ground, can be safely contained in a sealed system. If all goes according to the U.S. Special Operations Command's plan, within a decade or so the Advanced Tactical Laser may introduce a new class of weaponry to the battlefield.

The weapon's first incarnation, expected by 2010 at the earliest, will be a megawatt-class chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) fired from a rotating turret beneath the nose of a C-130 gunship. The beam could be up to 4 inches in diameter and have a 20-mile range--enabling it to burn through vehicles and machinery with a precision and millisecond timing that missiles and cannons can't achieve. (Cannons, in particular--now centuries old in concept--are tricky to aim. These "indirect fire" weapons must be pointed far from the target to factor in wind speed, humidity, firing force--even the rotation of the Earth.)

Next on the agenda: developing targeting, tracking and firing hardware. Among the questions researchers must answer: how long must the beam linger on a target to have the desired effect. "There are some interesting things with the directed energy technologies that we just don't know about," says Lt. Col. Joseph Panetta Jr., program manager for the Advanced Tactical Laser at the U.S. Special Operations Command headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. "We need to determine exactly how it will perform on the battlefield."

Laser weapons are a relative bargain compared with existing long-range weapons: They're expected to cost $8,000 per shot versus up to hundreds of thousands for missiles. Lasers are also tunable, which adds versatility: When less-than-lethal force is required, such as in urban areas or when hostages are present, the beam's duration can be reduced so that it disables technology but only injures people. "We want a system that can generate a variety of effects on the battlefield, from damaging something to totally destroying it, to just kind of harassing with it," Panetta says. "This seems to offer us that."

Next-gen tactical lasers will likely be electrically-powered and diode-pumped, since chemical lasers require storage and transport of heavy ingredients. The greatest challenge with electric lasers, says Lt. Col. JoAnn Erno, head of the power division at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, is managing the heat that's generated--lasers are only 10 percent efficient, so 90 percent of the power is lost in heat. "Controlling the heat will require active cooling," she says, "such as spraying the laser's diodes to keep them from overheating." Solid-state lasers will be smaller than chemical ones, permitting their use on fighter jets and ground vehicles. The Joint Strike Fighter, due to enter service in 2009, is a well-suited potential platform, says Erno, because its engine includes a metal shaft that spins fast enough to easily power a laser.

Lasers are an example of a weapon that should be developed for multiple uses, says Garrett. "If you can get several (military) branches to use it instead of four different devices that do the same thing, you can make it cheaper by cutting down logistics problems and easing training."

They are even eyeing it on our new aircraft. I saw something before while I was in the air force about a "Directed Energy Weapon" for the F-22. Not many details though, just listed in a future weapons section of a weapon directory from the Ammo Dump. It would be uber sweet if that were true. JSF is mentioned above too. May compenate for no internal gun if it can eventually zap something.

Here's the full article: Popular Science Article

[Godzilla]

It would be nice to have it now. I bet it could do wonders in Najif and Fallujah.

[Fatalist]

So the one thing I picked up on right off the bat, was " the chemical exhaust, which could pose a considerable threat to the weapon's operators."

Ok, so what if the plane(s) get shot down and the containment canisters burst or leak? Wouldn't that pose a risk to the surrounding environment? What effect would this have on the ozone?

[Angel's Fury]

Thank for the link Anubis! Once again, it was an interesting read.

[McKlown]

Heh, it's kind of weird reading this thread after watching Real Genius again a few days ago.

[Anubis]

So the one thing I picked up on right off the bat, was " the chemical exhaust, which could pose a considerable threat to the weapon's operators."

Ok, so what if the plane(s) get shot down and the containment canisters burst or leak? Wouldn't that pose a risk to the surrounding environment? What effect would this have on the ozone?

Probably comparable to an F-16 and it's Hydrazine tank for the EPU.

[Uxi]

Ozone?

What about "normal" fuel and ordinance burning up in a fire? What about the hypothetical pilot? Your priorities are all screwed up, dude!

[Opus]

Alright men, set your C-130s on STUN!

[Apollo Leader]

So the one thing I picked up on right off the bat, was " the chemical exhaust, which could pose a considerable threat to the weapon's operators."

Ok, so what if the plane(s) get shot down and the containment canisters burst or leak? Wouldn't that pose a risk to the surrounding environment? What effect would this have on the ozone?

Looks like we got Al Gore here on Macross World!

Back to the subject on hand, considering it was going to take a modified 747 to carry an airborne laser to disable short/medium range surface-to-surface missiles, being able to put a more versatile laser which could be used on something smaller like a C-130 is definitely some major progress.

A few years back, I briefly got to work with a laser for cutting up to 1/2" thick sheet metal for parts we were manufacturing for a number of companies. It was a used Strippit Helios. It was a constant pain in the butt because we kept on destroying a bunch of lenses.

[Zentrandude]

the orbital platform with huge tungsten rods sounds like one of the weapons from syndicate wars.

[DarkPhoenix]

No suprise. The idea for the tungsten rod weapon has been around since atleast the 50s, likely earlier.

[FlyingPika]

Alright men, set your C-130s on STUN!

lololo

[Druna Skass]

So when can I buy a functional Stormtrooper blaster rifle?

[That NOS Guy]

Fire ze laser!

-NOS

Who has a feeling this is about to turn into a scifi weapon geekfest.

[Angel's Fury]

So when can I buy a functional Stormtrooper blaster rifle?

I prefer Wing Zero's buster rifle.

[Druna Skass]

So when can I buy a functional Stormtrooper blaster rifle?

I prefer Wing Zero's buster rifle.

Yeah, but you can't carry it with you...

Tallgeese III's Mega Cannon looks better,has that tuning fork look like a Macross cannon.

[Mr March]

Very interesting. I didn't realize we had the capability to produve a high powered laser to actually mount on a small military vehicle. I wonder how they power the thing to do enough damage to an armored vehicle.