US Congress Funds Laser Weapons

An anonymous reader writes "The Washington Post reports that the US Congress is funding laser weapons for use in the near future. Low-power lasers called 'dazzlers' are already being used in Iraq to temporarily reduce a person's vision. High-power laser weapons would allow precision attacks that minimize civilian casualties. From the Post: 'The science board said tactical laser systems could be developed for broader use because they "enable precision ground attack to minimize collateral damage in urban conflicts." The report suggested, for example, that "future gunships could provide extended precision lethality and sensing." The board also proposed using lasers to protect against rockets, artillery, mortars and unmanned airborne vehicles by blasting them out of the sky. Last month, the Army awarded Boeing $36 million to continue development of a high-energy laser mounted on a truck that could hit overhead targets. But deployment is not expected until 2016, even if all goes well.'"

Comments

Cue Shark Jokes in 3 2 1

[Archangel Michael]

All shark jokes go here!

Re:Cue Shark Jokes in 3 2 1

[gnick]

Queue not cue.

Q, not queue. Although not known primarily for his sense of humor, who would be better qualified to mount a friggin laser on a shark and joke about it afterward than Q?

Re:Cue Shark Jokes in 3 2 1

[Darkfire79]

[Scene: A New York apartment. Someone knocks on the door.] Woman: [not opening the door] Yes? Voice: (mumbling) Mrs. Arlsburgerhhh? Woman: What? Voice: (mumbling) Mrs. Johannesburrrr? Woman: Who is it? Voice: [pause] Flowers. Woman: Flowers for whom? Voice: [long pause] Plumber, ma'am. Woman: I don't need a plumber. You're that clever shark, aren't you? Voice: [pause] Candygram. Woman: Candygram, my foot. You get out of here before I call the police. You're the shark, and you know it. Voice: Wait. I-I'm only a dolphin, ma'am. Woman: A dolphin? Well...okay. [opens door] [Huge latex and foam-rubber shark head lunges through open door, chomps down on woman's head, and drags her out of the apartment, all while the Jaws attack music is playing.]

Cartoon battlefield

[Recovering Hater]

Come on, you know the battlefields of the future are going to look like a 1980's G.I. Joe cartoon. Hilarious. Wait... Not really hilarious...

Re:Cartoon battlefield

[sharkey]

No, the battles of the future will be fought in space, or possibly at the top of very tall mountains, by robots.

Re:Cartoon battlefield

[halivar]

If both sides of every conflict missed every single target like on the TV show, I would, indeed, find it hilarious.

Re:Cartoon battlefield

[genner]

No, the battles of the future will be fought in space, or possibly at the top of very tall mountains, by robots.

Our duty is clear....to build and maintian those robots.

compact=gitmo

[b96miata]

Great, now mirrors will be renamed to "Improvised Reflective Devices"

Chris Night to the rescue?

[shawb]

It's going to take a Real Genius to get this right. I do hope they make sure their optics are clean.