Star Wars-style Laser Technology To Reach Battlefield

[Dover]

Rumsfeld's wet dream awakes:

Star Wars-style laser technology to reach battlefield

?w=404&h=269

By Thomas Harding

Star Wars-style technology is about to take to the battlefield for the first time with the launch of a laser system to shoot down enemy missiles and mortars.

Laser beam technology is being rushed into service to combat the threat of insurgent missiles and mortars raining down on British and American military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After decades of delay and billions of pounds spent, it will be simple commercial lasers rather than the hugely expensive US Department of Defence technology that could be used to save hundreds of troops’ lives.

In just 18 months the American defence firm Raytheon has turned a laser used in the car manufacturing industry into a weapon that can hit incoming rounds at the speed of light, melting the outer casing and detonating the explosive inside.

A laser has already been used in a test to destroy a 60mm mortar round and in September the company plans its first “shoot down” of a shell in flight in a test to be conducted with the US military. If successful it could be used on battlefields as early as next year.

The Ministry of Defence is also already in discussions with the company for the new weapon that will be mounted alongside the current Phalanx Gatling gun system that uses thousands of 20mm bullets to shoot down missiles physically...cont'd


http://aftermathnews.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/star-wars-style-laser-technology-to-reach-battlefield/


Gee, if they can effect the guidance systems of missiles, I guess they can also effect those of airplanes. We've certainly been able to direct unmanned flight since early in the space program.
Hmmm....

[dbonds]

1. This technology probably has other uses...

Anything that can 'melting the outer casing and detonating the explosive inside' can be aimed at the enemy to basically melt their face off (crusaders of the lost ark reference). With that technology they don't have to compensate for gravity or wind, just aim and dead soldiers.

[Dover]

2. Reminds me of the stories that cropped up not long ago, reporting whole flocks of birds dropping

dead. One of the places that happeded was Austin, Tx. There were a few more reports in other places and then the story just disappeared without resolution. I do think one of the 'labs'
reported some biological reason, but it's doubtful to me that was the cause.