Slashdot Mirror


Many Lasers Become One In Lockheed Martin's 30 kW Laser Weapon

Zothecula writes "In another step forward for laser weapons that brings to mind the Death Star's superlaser, Lockheed Martin has demonstrated a 30-kilowatt fiber laser produced by combining many lasers into a single beam of light. According to the company, this is the highest power laser yet that was still able to maintain beam quality and electrical efficiency, paving the way for a laser weapon system suitable, if not for a Death Star, for a wide range of air, land, and sea military platforms."

3 of 202 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Excuse me... Excuse me?!!! by Freshly+Exhumed · · Score: -1, Troll

    Diffraction/scattering of a 30kw laser beam to make it harmless to satellites... nope, I don't think so.

    --
    I deny that I have not avoided attaining the opposite of that which I do not want.
  2. Re:Excuse me... Excuse me?!!! by Freshly+Exhumed · · Score: -1, Troll

    Missiles run out of fuel. Bullets and shells are subject to ballistics. Missed 30kw laser blasts know no factors to stopping them, as much as some people will claim that a beam of such magnitude will somehow become safely diffuse within our atmosphere if it has not already pierced something else.

    --
    I deny that I have not avoided attaining the opposite of that which I do not want.
  3. Re:Newtonian physics and ballistics don't apply! by Freshly+Exhumed · · Score: -1, Troll

    The physics of electromagnetism and photonics will somehow stop an errant beam from destroying anything else as it travels onwards? Nope, of course not.

    --
    I deny that I have not avoided attaining the opposite of that which I do not want.