The LASER Cannon
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The LASER Cannon
US navy laser cannon shoots down planes | Science | guardian.co.uk
Some medal opportunities for the Waddington Model Aero Club, maybe?
The Guardian, 9 APR13
The US navy has used a powerful laser cannon to shoot down drone aircraft and will start deploying the weapon on its ships, saying it represents the future of warfare.
"The future is here," said Peter Morrison at the Office of Naval Research's Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation Programme.
The weapon, known as the Laser Weapon System or Laws, has so far only been used to shoot down drones in testing areas but is being billed as a step towards transforming warfare. Since it runs on electricity it can fire as long as there is power at a cost of less than US$1 dollar per shot, says the navy.
"Compare that to the hundreds of thousands of dollars it costs to fire a missile and you can begin to see the merits of this capability," said Rear Admiral Matthew Klunder, chief of naval research.
The US navy has used a powerful laser cannon to shoot down drone aircraft and will start deploying the weapon on its ships, saying it represents the future of warfare.
"The future is here," said Peter Morrison at the Office of Naval Research's Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation Programme.
The weapon, known as the Laser Weapon System or Laws, has so far only been used to shoot down drones in testing areas but is being billed as a step towards transforming warfare. Since it runs on electricity it can fire as long as there is power at a cost of less than US$1 dollar per shot, says the navy.
"Compare that to the hundreds of thousands of dollars it costs to fire a missile and you can begin to see the merits of this capability," said Rear Admiral Matthew Klunder, chief of naval research.
Actually, the idea of shiney surfaces doesn't work very well against them. As they are not absolutely 100% effective reflectors, it just takes a short amount of time for the initial energy absorbed to ruin the reflectivity and then the l@ser does its damage like it would on any other surface.
Quite heavy on ink cartridges, though.
Quite heavy on ink cartridges, though.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I always wanted to make a model of that gun. I wonder how many rounds they reckoned getting away before they were destroyed. One? Two?
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I saw 'Atomic Annie' at the museum adjoining the Sandia Laboratory on a visit there some years ago. It was the only one of the small batch made that had actually fired. Couldn't help being impressed at its size.
Originally Posted by PN
I wonder how many rounds they reckoned getting away before they were destroyed.
YEP, one or two and they'd be winning. Winning something.
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Doesn't mention that they use lots of electricity, nor that the systems get hot.
Wonder how much 'leccy power one could get if the lift fan on the '35-B were replaced by a generator...
I must say, I like one tracks suggestion. Deliver the fat tw@t a bucket of sunshine and see if he still struts his stuff. I know lads, think about the innocent civilians. But, how long do we wait?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
19 seconds flash to bang. Assume 2000 feet per second. 38,000 feet.
Not very far!
Size wise it was not that different from a 550. Now if they made it impact fused that would have been some electronics to survive the launch and impact. Maybe they just relied on the cannon principle
Not very far!
Size wise it was not that different from a 550. Now if they made it impact fused that would have been some electronics to survive the launch and impact. Maybe they just relied on the cannon principle
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Top marks to the spams for batsh@t craziness with this too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Cr...nuclear_device)
YouTube
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Cr...nuclear_device)
YouTube
Last edited by VinRouge; 9th Apr 2013 at 21:46.
Did I hear that correctly.
USS PONCE ?
USS PONCE ?
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"I always wanted to make a model of that gun" - I had one back i the '70s!
Thought it was a marvellous piece of kit until I found out later that the crew were probably within the collateral damage radius.
PS Turns out the 1/32 model is still available, but much dearer than it used to be.
Thought it was a marvellous piece of kit until I found out later that the crew were probably within the collateral damage radius.
PS Turns out the 1/32 model is still available, but much dearer than it used to be.
Last edited by A A Gruntpuddock; 10th Apr 2013 at 02:16.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Nuclear artillery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
VanRouge, that link had an error, but look at the link above, then scroll down the pictures, look at Dr Strangeglove, he in the stripey shirt on the right.
If the Cold War frightened you, that picture would have terrified you even more.
VanRouge, that link had an error, but look at the link above, then scroll down the pictures, look at Dr Strangeglove, he in the stripey shirt on the right.
If the Cold War frightened you, that picture would have terrified you even more.