Northrop Grumman Markets Weaponized Laser System

stephencrane writes "Northrop Grumman is making available for sale the FIRESTRIKE weaponized laser system. The solid-state laser unit weighs over 400lbs, sends/receives instructions and data via an RJ-45 jack and can be synchronized with additional units to emit a 100 kW beam. It looks like some piece of stereophonic amplification equipment out of the '50s. Or Fallout 3. The press release suggests that FIRESTRIKE 'will form the backbone of future laser weapon systems.'"

Comments

Great Idea!!!!!.....

[IHC Navistar]

1) Give billions of government tax dollars to private firm to develop giant high-tech laser weapon.

2) Develop said weapon.

3) Put weapon on the market.

4) Sell weapon to FOREIGN GOVERNMENT so they can ARM THEMSELVES WITH THEM.

5) Pocket proceeds from sale.

6) PROFIT!!!!! (sort of)

Wow. Now we are paying to develop a high-tech weapon that will now be SOLD to foreign governments. 10 bucks says China, Russia, N. Korea, and the Middle East are already trying to get their hands on one.

Even only selling them to "friendly" governments doesn't mean that the weapons won't be RESOLD through middlemen to hostile ones.