Article

2006-10-26 Science & Technology

Northrop Grumman Offers New Compact High-Power Solid-State Laser

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Posted by Anonymoose 2006-10-26 11:29|| || Front Page|| [11134 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 This isn't a snarky question -- I really want to know: is there something that lasers would do better than what we have now?

Posted by Jonathan">Jonathan 2006-10-26 14:48|| 2006-10-26 14:48|| Front Page Top

#2 A laser can shoot down incoming mortar and arty rounds before they can impact on your head.

Nothing that I know of currently fielded can do this.

'Course... if you can shoot down arty - planes and missles are kind of a no-brainer.

Posted by Leigh 2006-10-26 15:09|| 2006-10-26 15:09|| Front Page Top

#3 I really want to know: is there something that lasers would do better than what we have now?

1.) A laser doesn't jam or need oiling and cleaning (as much).

2.) A laser doesn't need its clip reloaded after a few seconds on full-auto.

3.) A laser does more damage more quickly to a larger variety of materials (and organs).

4.) A laser can be coordinated with other target acquisition systems.

5.) A laser doesn't have problems with drop or windage (i.e., it's point & shoot).

6.) A laser makes no firing noise for the enemy to audio-locate upon.

7.) An IR laser would have no muzzle flash (article does not spec wavelength).

8.) A laser has continuous output, not individual rounds.

9.) Laser weapons can all share identical battery packs without any ammunition caliber mismatch issues.

10.) Laser batteries are less dangerous to carry and transport than ammunition.

11.) Laser batteries can be recharged using solar cells or other simple power sources unlike reloading rounds of ammunition.

12.) Laser weapons will blind or kill our enemies in ways that will inspire complete and total terror. Quite possibly to the point where they fear even taking the field against us. The psychological advantage of this single feature cannot be overstated. If our foes dread even the thought of trying to engage us, we will win battles without firing a single shot

Long ago, the U.S. Army developed C-CLAW (Close Combat Laser Assault Weapon), and it was instantly denounced by human rights types as being inhuman because of its ability to almost instantaneously blind large gatherings of people.

Back then, I immediately arrived at the conclusion that America should make weapons of such a ferocious and savage nature that our enemies would shit their pants just knowing that we were coming after them. This new generation of comabt laser weapons promises exactly that. Me like.

- Operated at a power of 15 kilowatts continuous run time

- Is designed to operate at this power and beam quality level indefinitely -- even demonstrating more than 20 minutes of continuous operation with no degradation.

That is enough time to, most likely, saw a car in half or achieve all sorts of other dainty mission objectives.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2006-10-26 15:42|| 2006-10-26 15:42|| Front Page Top

#4 Jeeze, I left out:

13.) Lasers have inherent auto-ranging capability to provide targeting for other combat support weaponry.

14.) Lasers can rapidly paint or acquire pre-painted targets with ease.

15.) Lasers can pierce armor, even reactive armor.

16.) Lasers readily acquire and impact extremely fast moving targets.

17.) Lasers are electronically keyed to individual operators with ease.

18.) Using galvanometric or acousto-optic (Bragg cell) output deflection, a laser weapon could sweep large areas to provide denial of incoming projectiles (per Leigh's mention of mortar and artillery supression).

I'll also add; Imagine the morale boost our soldiers will get from packing Star Wars heat against stone age armed opponents.

The list is almost endless.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2006-10-26 16:21|| 2006-10-26 16:21|| Front Page Top

#5 #19 The ability to flash BBQ a whole pig at a thousand yards (BBQ-sauce-be-upon-it).

Posted by Flea 2006-10-26 17:30|| 2006-10-26 17:30|| Front Page Top

#6 I'll also add; Imagine the morale boost our soldiers will get from packing Star Wars heat against stone age armed opponents.

Technology can be overrated, especially if your batteries die. Think about the Ewoks. Those little fellas did some serious damage and they just had rocks and spears.

Posted by remoteman 2006-10-26 17:45|| 2006-10-26 17:45|| Front Page Top

#7 Can we put some of them on the border with mex?
just askin.

Posted by Angatch Spaise5917 2006-10-26 17:56|| 2006-10-26 17:56|| Front Page Top

#8 Technology can be overrated, especially if your batteries die. Think about the Ewoks. Those little fellas did some serious damage and they just had rocks and spears.

They had a [hack] screenwriter on their side.

Lasers aren't perfect weapon, and individual arms will be slugthrowers for a long time, but lasers have a buttload of capabilities nothing else can match.

Imagine being about to shoot down RPG rounds.

Posted by Rob Crawford">Rob Crawford 2006-10-26 18:01|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2006-10-26 18:01|| Front Page Top

#9 "Nams Qarlo Kopregne R-E-M-E-N-T-O".

/spot the old timers

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-10-26 18:02|| 2006-10-26 18:02|| Front Page Top

#10 Technology can be overrated, especially if your batteries die.

A gun that's out of ammunition is just as useless. Access to electrical power is often a lot easier than finding more bullets. This is also why I mentioned carrying a .45 as backup.

Think about the Ewoks. Those little fellas did some serious damage and they just had rocks and spears.

The Ewoks' survival depended entirely upon the fact that the director created them especially for his little grandaughter. A Death Star* makes short work of Ewoks (when it isn't being blown up by a bunch of teenagers).

* WARNING: Clicking link may lead to wetting pants due to hysterical laughter.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2006-10-26 18:27|| 2006-10-26 18:27|| Front Page Top

#11 "Nams Qarlo Kopregne R-E-M-E-N-T-O".

"Meow"
"C.O. !"

Posted by J.D. Lux 2006-10-26 18:38|| 2006-10-26 18:38|| Front Page Top

#12 "Nams Qarlo Kopregne R-E-M-E-N-T-O".

Outer Limits?

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2006-10-26 18:48|| 2006-10-26 18:48|| Front Page Top

#13 (chuckle)
Guess we're the oldtimers.

Posted by J.D. Lux 2006-10-26 18:51|| 2006-10-26 18:51|| Front Page Top

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