Mein Gott: Laser Weapon-Systems

[RalliX]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20944726

A laser weapons system that can shoot down two drones at a distance of over a mile has been demonstrated by Rheinmetall Defence.

The German defence firm used the high-energy laser equipment to shoot fast-moving drones at a distance.

The system, which uses two laser weapons, was also used to cut through a steel girder a kilometre away.

The company plans to make the laser weapons system mobile and to integrate automatic cannon.

The 50kW laser weapons system used radar and optical systems to detect and track two incoming drones, the company said. The nose-diving drones were flying at 50 metres per second, and were shot down when they reached a programmed fire sector.

The weapons system locked onto the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by using radar for a rough approximation of the location of the targets, then fine-tuned the tracking using an optical system.

The high-energy laser system was used to cut through a 15mm-thick steel girder, and to shoot out of the air a steel ball designed to mimic a mortar round.

The company has tested the laser system in a variety of weather conditions, including snow, sunlight, and rain.

Rheinmetall plans to test its laser weapons mounted on different vehicles and to integrate a 35mm revolver cannon into it.

A number of governments and defence firms are in the process of developing weapons that use or incorporate lasers. For example, Raytheon unveiled a 50kW anti-aircraft laser at the Farnborough Airshow in 2010, and in June 2012 the US Army released details of a weapon that can fire a laser-guided lightning-bolt at a target.

Rheinmetall, you dogs you.
Finally; L4zor-b33mz.

Spoiler

 

[Lord Burgess1]

Now they have this, the march to Moscow can resume.

 

[Chechen!]

...I concur with the above poster.

 

[Vermillion_Hawk]

These sorts of lasers have been in existence for years though. The THEL is still operational somewhere in the Middle East if memory serves.

 

[Mage246]

The Israelis are developing something similar to take out missiles.

 

[PoisonCourtesan]

Awesome stuff.

 

[Cyborg Eastern European]

The Israelis are developing something similar to take out missiles.

Think pretty much everyone is, at this point.

 

[Mage246]

True, but they're basically the experts at anti-missile defense at this point. Trial by fire and all that.

 

[Cyborg Eastern European]

Most folks' definition of "Missile defence" is called "Not being a ****."
:p

 

[Mage246]

That's not the definition of anyone I know. Perhaps you are using a definition of "most" that differs from that of most people?

 

[Selothi]

Most people would say you're purposefully missing the point of Hyp's (albeit lacklustre) joke in favour of being able to act deadpan.

At least most of the voices in my head think that.

 

[Harkon Haakonson]

Most people would say you're purposefully missing the point of Hyp's joke in favour of being able to act deadpan.

At least most of the voices in my head think that.

Pretty much, yeah... It's a simple concept really. Countries that don't actively stir up **** are less likely to suffer from missile bombardment.

 

[Mage246]

Tell that to South Korea.

 

[rebelsquirrell]

Tell that to South Korea.

ah, nice move. (Golf clap)

 

[CJ1145]

Tell that to South Korea.

ah, nice move. (Golf clap)

Ohf, yesh, indubitably good suuuuuuuhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrruuuuhhhhhh...

*snap snap*

Guh, wha, huh. What happened. Anyways, yeah, kickass, Napoleon's ready for round two. Lasers!

 

[Dodes]

can we finally get sharks with fricking laser beams attached to their heads?

 

[rebelsquirrell]

can we finally get sharks with fricking laser beams attached to their heads?

Whilst no such arrangement has been made I can offer you this as consolation.

 

[Suspicous Pilgrim]

Sounds cool, but how big are the weapons firing these lasers? The size of a room?

 

[Splintert]

Gauss and railguns are cooler.

Sounds cool, but how big are the weapons firing these lasers? The size of a room?

50 years ago, computers were the size of rooms and had the processing power of a redstone circuit system in Minecraft.

 

[szalaima]

These sorts of lasers have been in existence for years though.