If youre into military technology at all, somewhere in the back of your mind, you want laser guns to happen. Because theyre cool. Han Solo cool. Starbuck cool. James T. Kirk cool.
But wanting something to happen is very different from having it happen. And we are still a ways off like a decade, at the very least, and probably more from deployable laser weapons.
Which is not the impression youd get from this Space.com article, or the book which it covers, Doug Beasons The E-Bomb: How Americas New Directed Energy Weapons Will Change the Way Wars Will Be Fought in the Future.
The U.S. “is on the verge of deploying a new generation of weapons that discharge beams of energy, such as the Airborne Laser and the Active Denial System, as well as the Tactical High Energy Laser, Space.com says.
Um, not exactly. The Active Denial System thats the microwave-esque pain ray weve discussed before is getting closer to be fielded, yeah. But the laser systems? No way. The Airborne Laser is billions over budget and years past its initial deadline. The Tactical High Energy Laser, it was cancelled last year. The reason is basically the same in both cases: each weapon relies on giant vats of toxic chemicals to produce its laser light. And very few people in the military feel like hauling all that goop off to war.
But Beason I met him last year, and read a galley of his book months before it came out says money can fix many of those woes.
At present, directed-energy systems “are barely limping along with enough money just to prove that they can work,” Beason pointed out. Meanwhile, huge slugs of money are being put into legacy-type systems to keep them going.
“Its a matter of priority,” Beason said. The time is now to identify high-payoff, directed-energy projects for the smallest amounts of money, he said.
In Beasons view, Active Denial Technology, the Airborne Laser program and the THEL project, as well as supporting technologies such as relay mirrors, are all works in progress that give reason for added support and priority funding.
Ive interviewed hundreds of military scientists over the past four years. And nearly all of them have told me the same thing, no matter how far-out their research is: if the government would just give me a couple of hundred million dollars, then if I would have some seriously whiz-bang shit ready to go, pronto.
Energy weapon guys often give the same rap. But these chemical-based lasers — no amount of money is going to solve the logistical headaches of carting around and handling the toxic materials they require.
The only alternative, in the (relatively) short term: solid state lasers, which get their energy from excited crystals. The problem is that the power you get from such beams, about 25 kilowatts, is a tiny fraction — about two percent — of what the megawatt that chemical lasers produce.
There are development efforts underway to boost that power. I just got back from Northrop Grumman’s solid state laser lab, which, within three years, could very well have the first solid state laser that the military could conceivably think of as weapons grade. But even if that 100 kilowatt laser comes off without a hitch, we’re still looking at a long time before we hit Han Solo territory. Which is too bad, really.
Here’s a possible ‘fix’ for boosting solid state laser performance:
“SHOCK-PRODUCED COHERENT LIGHT. Physicists at MIT and Livermore
National Lab have discovered a new source of coherent radiation
distinct from traditional lasers and free-electron lasers; they
propose to build a device in which coherent photons are produced by
sending shock waves through a crystal. The result would be coherent
light resembling the radiation issuing from a laser; but the
mechanism of light production would not be stimulated emission, as
it is in a laser, but rather the concerted motion of row after row
of atoms in the target crystal. The passing shock front, set in
motion by a projectile or laser blast, successively excites a huge
density wave in the crystal; the atoms, returning to their original
places in the matrix, emit light coherently, mostly in the THz
wavelength band. Although sources of coherent light in this part of
the electromagnetic spectrum have developed in recent years, it is
still a difficult task. The next step will be to carry out an
experimental test of the shock-wave light production. This work
will be performed at two national labs—Livermore and Los Alamos.
According to Evan Reed (who moved from MIT to Livermore,
reed23@llnl.gov) the first likely application of coherent radiation
will be as a diagnostic for understanding shock waves. The
radiation should provide information about shock speed and the
degree of crystallinity (Reed et al., Physical Review Letters, 13
January 2006)“
–AIP Physics News Update.
This reminds me about the tilt rotor projects that began decades ago (X-22, XV-3, XV-15, and XC-142). It sure took decades to get V-22 Osprey into service (and for a tilt rotor after almost half a century since XV-3!). Directed Energy weapons also seems to be something to be experimented for decades before it “finally” reaches the point to be in service.
An effective version of laser weaponry is ready for use today. The Chinese have installed it on the turret of the Type 98 MBT
http://sinodefence.com/army/tank/type98.asp
“The procedure of the laser weapon would first use a low-powered beam to locate the optics of the enemy weapon. Once the enemy weapon was located, the power level of the laser would be immediately and dramatically increased. Such an attack would disable the guidance optics of the enemy weapon and/or damage the eyesight of the enemy gunner.“
Using lasers as blinding weapons would be a most efficient way of rendering your enemy “combat ineffective” and is available today. Apparently the Chinese have no qualms about using them in this manner.
Err, if 100kw is enough to take out incoming artillery shells, then it’s enough to take out infantry, light vehicles, combat support vehicles (fuel trucks go boom), and quite possibly armored vehicles including tanks by targeting the engine deck. Oh, and planes and SAMs, too.
Folks, that sounds pretty revolutionary to me. You don’t *need* megawatt-class lasers to be effective in a tactical environment.
Big D:
You’re right, “you don’t *need* megawatt-class lasers to be effective in a tactical environment.” But getting the appropriate power levels in just the start. Packaging, cooling, getting the proper power *inputs,* you need all that too before you can have something that works as a weapon. It’s gonna take a little while.
nms
Franklin:
Actually, the Israelis quit on the THEL before the Americans. And once that Israeli funding was gone, the project started looking a lot less attractive to the Pentagon.
nms
That is really unprofessional to say shit in the article.
I agree with Drew. And the grammar is poor, too.
Information/Disinformation What’s the real truth?
Nov 10, 2002 article appeared in the Sunday News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, written by Andrew Bridges, Associated Press. “Pentagon develops fast laser weapons”.
In this article it says that defense officials used a laser to shoot an artillery shell out of the sky!
I’ve seen films of lasers dropping drones back in the 1970’s. We have the technology and we wouldn’t be spending $3.7 billion on the mounting of a laser in the nose of a 747 unless they worked and worked well. Well enough to eliminate the need for Patriot missles and maybe even anti-ballistic missles.
One of the lager lasers is in Bagdad since last year. I’ve only seen that on the news once. Why not tout what we have in our arsenal. It may deter our enemies from spending their money on scud missles etc.
We just need Jack Bauer of the CTU to protect our technology from traitors in our government that will do anything for a buck or for their own country that they came from like the Cuban born woman who work for the Defense Intelligence Agency(DIA) and was using a short wave radio to send troop deployment locations to the Cuban government. Funny thing, I haven’t heard a word about what they did with her. I Wonder if Jack interigated her?
“The Airborne Laser is billions over budget and years past its initial deadline.“
With no results?
Billions over budget but accomplishing nothing?
Sure — I believe it.….
this artlcle came from a new school reporter who patheticly tried to make the story cool & hip. If you are going to report something new to the public, organize your facts, present them in an orderly manner and leave the street talk for the Micky D crowd. He must think his readers are 16 years old. Give me a break and put him on the teen beat. Leave the intellegent reporting to someone qualified. This guy must be someones nephew.
Whiz bang shit, huh the writer of this article probably thinks the money spent to increase our technical knowledge is better spent on food stamps or socialized health care. In my opinion if the atom bomb was a top secret super weapon in the 1940’s the things the government has today must be at least as amazing as the atom bomb was then.
Boeing has Airborn Laser Platform for shooting down Balistic Missiles. On Board a Military Varient of 747.
If I “interviewed hundreds of military scientists” who believed they could “have some seriously whiz-bang shit ready to go, pronto” if given the proper financing I wouldn’t be near as pessimistic as the anonymous author of this article. His conclusion of relentless pessimism leads me to doubt the claimed research. How could you possibly not be excited about technology after talking to hundreds of military scientists?
In view of the recent fighting between Israel and the Hezbolla, I see no no option for Israel but to renew the THEL program. While the current design makes the system a sitting duck for arracks by Katyusha or mortar fire, it will be possible to make it more compact in size, movable and armored. This, off course, will require large additional funding, but it is still much cheaper than the economic damage inflicted on the northern part of Israel during the second Lebanese war.
Just remember folks, there are NO comments on this board by anybody who is actively working in this field, because it is CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. I was involved in this project in the 1970’s, and WE WERE SHOOTING DOWN MISSILES WHEN EVERYBODY SAID IT CAN’T BE DONE, so take everything people say on this board with a huge grain of Sodium Chloride. You have NO IDEA what the air force is actually doing right now with lasers. None.
For all of you who are wondering why the US cancelled THEL, check out HELLADS (High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System).
It is small and powerful. It will be small enough to fit on the next Predator drones. This is the “3rd generation” that someone already mentioned. The laser systems work. We just aren’t going to waste billions of dollars on a massive dinosaur system when there is a pint-sized version that does the same thing available now. Thank God for the HUGE breakthrough: metamaterials!
So, the next stage in an arms race would be reflective paint then?
Let
Wrong dip stick. Once you get certain quantities of photons in one spot non-linear effects take over. Things which are normally transparent or reflective become highly absorbant to any photons which impinge on the material. Lasers are pretty neat, but I find differential Absorption LIDAR more intriguing. It will allow for a ballooning of fire and forget technology.
dont realy know what to say but i saw a USAF general about 3years ago on the TV getting caught talking a little too loud and basically what he said was
“think of the aircraft and weapon systems we “would” have in 50 years.……now think another 50 years and thats where we are up to, Star Trek BAH been there done that got the T-shirt“
belive me if you want or ignore me if you dont either way thats cool WAY cool
to be fair all this tech we are seeing now has been white for over a decade (if only in concept) but think the grey is probably 20–30 years from being found out so the black is at least 50years away. and now try factoring in what the Black projects will be in another 50 using technological progression and expidential increase in computing power.
The Future is already over just think of the BANG you could make in 50 years time
That seems relatively implausible.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not flat-out denying what you’re saying and, in fact, it would be fantastic if bleeding-edge laser technology were as far advanced as you claim it to be.
However, if it were the case, would we not, at least in part, have seen evidence of its existance.
If we genuinely have that technology available, why is it not seen atop every HUMVEE?
If you have the technology why not use it?
If they are using it, is it really possible to completely cover it up?
If I’m just being naive, please tell me.
Time to have a really good think.
I can buy a laser for welding that is lethal as a weapon. Burn a hole in your head quite easily. Stick it on a truck, get some big batteries, simple. Not much range but who cares. As if there isn’t totally lethal laser weaponry in existence. As if massive lasers are a problem. As if targeting is a problem. As if the military gives a shit about the toxicity of chemicals. Heard of plutonium? As if the military is going to tell us what they’re really doing…unbelievable naivety to think otherwise.
It’s all about money. It’s all about domination of the globe with space based weapons. They are not going to tell us anything whatsoever about the reality of advanced weapons systems.
Ok all you nay-sayers.
Have you ever heared of the Laser Avenger that Boeing developed and tested and is about ready to fielded. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4231116.html
Mainly as a demonstrator to show the world that we have the technology and we can develope and field it in a short time.
War time is wonderful for weapon development. If it weren’t for WW2 our country wouldn’t have gotten out of the Depretion, developed the Atomic bomb or became the greatest Power the world has ever known.
We have this “war” in the middle east that is constantly active yet tame enough to let us refine old equipment and develope and deploy new stuff too.
I have been in the Army National Guard (Cavalry Scout and Infantry) for only 3 years and I have been issued, turned-in, and issued new gear and battle uniforms 4 times since I enlisted.
I also Work for Boeing so I get updates on all the new projects daily, and they are all on their way to on schedual deployment.
The Air Force has orders for 12 of the Airborn Lasers.
My point is, We are the greatest in the world with no real pertinant need for Laser weapons. The technology is slow in being developed because it can be. Like the F-22 I remember when it was a consept back in 1992, and only now is it being activated. All the debate was not if it was do-able (of course it was, it was nothing outragious) the debate is if it was nesesary.
The same thing applies to the Laser Weapons. Can we do it? Definatly! Do we NEED them? Probably not right now. But we could and that is the point.
Right now the United States needs to be the expert of the technology and be able to have the upper hand if the threat ever came about.
I guess that’s all I have to say about that.
Sure these laser weapons are plausible. Anything is possible, but at a cost. People doubted the aspect of the airplane and the lightbulb. Now these are things used everyday. But if the cost of effective lasers is harmful waste products, then people need to find another way or just five up.
I can garentie lazzer weopens by 2050. if there in’t i’l eat my computer oh and y hasent anybuddy postited siense 04
I always adhere to and keep a distance from everyone. Until now, I did not have a true friend, although I was a lonely, although I did not like the other players that they have many friends send them cheap zeny, I must be rely on myself, at least I will not hurt anybody, and perhaps this is kind of happiness.
Looking back at the past, in those days, we played together; we have no much rappelz money, we have no need equipment and no senior friends too us, but I am still playing very happy. Rappelz left everywhere in our laughter. There is only one reason is that I have her around, I would meet, everything becomes unimportant. One thing I feel very sorry, that is when I married her, mo gorgeous fireworks, mo friends of blessing. Now I have heart, I feel wronged her, I am sorry to her.
Virtual net works, virtual role of the game, I did not as him what people. It is only a game; happy is the purpose of the game. I chat with him happy. I have an on line he will not be alone to upgrade and earn GuildWars money, but rather for the first time chat with me, in this way we often sit together.
Looks like Obama didn’t feel the airborne laser was worth it