Can you hit your targets when playing an Xbox shooting game? If so, the Navy might just want to put a video-game-like controller in your hands. Except this version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will have you aiming a ship-mounted laser at real enemies.
A Navy video shows a new laser weapon system successfully zapping a small target on a moving ship, shooting an unmanned aircraft out of the sky and picking off other targets at sea.
The Navy put the 30-kilowatt, directed-energy weapon to the test aboard the USS Ponce during the fall in the Persian Gulf. Because the weapon performed “flawlessly” during exercises, U.S. Central Command gave the Ponce’s commander the authority to defend the ship with the laser.
The video, which was released last week, shows operators in front of a panel of screens. One operator aims and fires using a hand control that looks similar to what gets gripped by the sweaty mitts of gamers every day, all over the world.
Can you handle fire from all directions? Laser operators in the Gulf fended off a simulated small boat “swarm attack” with the single weapon, Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder told the U.S. Naval Institute News.
Weaponized drones have been the symbol of high-tech modern warfare with lasers seemingly stuck in science fiction and video games. However, the military and contractors have been quietly developing laser systems.
Boeing announced earlier this year that it had successfully tested a high-energy laser gun mounted to a truck that shot down more than 150 drones.
Expensive, drawn-out wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have the Pentagon seriously looking at ways to cut costs.
Klunder said lasers cost “less than a dollar per shot,” compared to a single multimillion-dollar missle, because all that is needed is electricity. The laser on the Ponce gets its electricity from a diesel generator.
The Navy will test higher-power laser weapons and consider mounting them to other ships over the next couple of years.
https://youtu.be/D0DbgNju2wE
David Pierini is a former newspaper writer and long-time photographer. Considered a luddite by most of his friends, they did not believe him when he broke the news that he would be writing for a technology website. He is fascinated by human nature and would love to cultivate stories about the people driving the tech bus. Reach out to him at [email protected].
8 responses to “Navy’s laser weapon zaps drones out of sky for $1 per shot”
I’m confused as to why this is on CultOfMac.
Erfon ♥’s Lasers.
A dollar a shot – and several billion in development.
And if I was to aim it on the deck at friendlies?
Exactly what direction are you trying to take this site? Seriously.
$1 a shot (+ the cost of the drone that you fried with it).
I find it humorous that readers can get so annoyed because a free web site happens to offer a few articles they may consider off-topic. To the point they must take the time out of their busy day to point out how annoyed they are, instead of using the valuable time to seek out article they prefer more.
I fail to see how the existence of this article here is harmful to anyone. When I see an article on this or any other site that I don’t find interesting, I scroll on to the next one that may be of more interest.
I found the article interesting for two reasons:
1. The advancement of technology.
2. I once served on the USS Ponce and am glad to see she is still sailing strong and on the cutting edge.
Why not just use a mouse/finger and select the target(s), and let the laser and radar handle the aiming/shooting autonimously? The computer should be able to determine friendlies as well, so if they get between the laser and target, hold off the shot until clear.
Takes the human error out of it (though does give the “machines” another tool to take over the world.)