I’m sure this has been posted at other places but I wanted to shoot you the latest video from Boeing showcasing it’s Advanced Tactical Laser firing a shot at a vehicle on the ground. The modified C-130 was airborne for the shot and hit almost dead center on the target.
Boeing says the laser disabled the vehicle, though this is not a video of that shot.
For Boeing’s next test, they’ll destroy a peaceful, forested planet called Alderaan from a space station that looks like a small moon…
– Christian
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But can they pop a house full of popcorn?!
Finally. Something that came through that Stargate that’s actually useful.
boy, the Jedis are going to feel this one.
Dude I could see the use at maybe targeting a truck engine, gas tank, ordinance, etc.. but against people as anything but maybe crowd dispersement, not sure of the value.
A blow torch may break a crowd but as far as a killing weapon we would be talking immediate reflex moving target.
Or I wonder what kind of power would be required to say shoot through your average human center point of mass?
More videos like this will help the general public understand laser weapons better. Most people still have the scifi insta-death kilo-zap raygun in their head. In the near to mid future (5-20 years) what we’ll have are basically heat rays — long distance blow torches.
As already noted, these won’t be the best anti-personnel weapons since our pain reflexes will make us squirm out of the way — although the accuracy will help. Getting a 100-200 millisecond blowtorch blast to an exposed neck or face could be fatal — I’ve no idea.
It’ll be more a mission-kill weapon for missiles, rockets, vehicles, planes, ships, etc — if we can burn a quarter inch hole through an engine or wing or tire.
What’s also nice is that you could probably disable equipment without people noticing until after they have to use it… Or until they walk by and notice a big honking hole in it.
But…but…they’re a peaceful basketball.
Nobody you might be onto something. I remember watching a video of this laser tested in a lab years ago. It burned through an inch of steel in a few seconds and you couldn’t see the beam, just the hole burning. I suppose you’d have to ask yourself why is this laser any better than a bullet or a shell doing the same damage.
Emperial? Spell check. Use it. Love it.
Eight seconds to pop through a hood. Is that a good or a bad thing?
Is there video testing the ABL against soft targets? Zap a pig, for example? I don’t recall if pigs are still the standard model for testing against soft targets.
Instead of writing messages on ordnance… the AF will now be lasing messages directly on the enemy.
Maybe this will make it easier to find the bad guys… Look for the people wearing tin foil.
This was a chemical laser per Boeing. That’s a technology that would be difficult to fit in a fighter or attack aircraft. So is a C-130 armed with this laser more useful than an AC-130 with it’s 105 mm howitzer? Maybe for some missions but on average, probably not.
On the other hand, a laser would be a great defense against missiles or to use against small UAVs.
TB said – “I suppose you’d have to ask yourself why is this laser any better than a bullet or a shell doing the same damage”
How about 3200 ft/sec (speed of a bullet) to ONE BILLION ft/sec (speed of light)
In theory if you could pack a laser into a rifle sized weapon a soldier could shoot down supersonic missiles by just pointing and shooting that is how fast the speed of light is and why they are the weapon of the future. You master speed of light weaponry you own the battlefield.
Hmmm…
The Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) is going to be all but all but impossible, isn’t it?
Back in Gulf War I, we wacked the same tanks (etc) over and over again because the depleted uranium shells used by the A-10s didn’t leave the target smoking ruins.
This leaves even less damage than the A-10 (just looks like a sloppy paint job from a distance).
“Emperial Cruiser”
Jesus X. Christ, what is your education level.
Impressive video. It’s a shame all those Bothans died to bring it to us. Hopefully the Air Force has allocated some budget towards armoring over the exhaust vent on the fuselage of the C-130. I heard that it’s the Airborne Tactical Laser’s only weak point…
Impressive. The lasing went on for a few seconds yet stayed within inches (or less) of the initial strike point – while the laser was in a moving airplane. Damn good tracking.
You’ll know they’re ready to start blowing up planets when they issue the laser operators helmets with jutting chins that block the view of the control panel.
Not for nothing, but apart from the burning effect, a DEW might be able to generate an EMP or electrical defeat. For example, you don’t need to burn a hole through the engine compartment if you can kill the ignition or fuel injection system.
Kinda reminds me of a "rail gun" demonstration put on in White Sands for a select few WO's in 1955…So, this is new, huh…