According to a report by the financial media website “Investment Channel” on the 6th, the US Air Force Special Operations Command plans to install and test laser pointer weapons on the AC-130 heavy ground attack aircraft within one year. Brad Webb, head of the Air Force Special Operations Command, said the project requires financial support from outside the government.
AC-130 was developed by Lockheed-Martin and modified based on C-130 transport aircraft. In recent years, the attack aircraft has undergone a series of upgrades and improvements, equipped with more missiles, bombs and other firepower. The most well-known is its 105 mm caliber howitzer.
Webb said at a meeting organized by the US Air Force Association on the 2nd of this month that he was “very optimistic” about attracting investment in this project, and many investors have been committed to promoting the development of the project. The US Air Force Special Operations Command’s existing funds can support the project’s “first steps.”
According to Webb, the US military plans to install a relatively low-power laser weapon on the AC-130 attack aircraft, “starting from the proof of concept.” After testing to verify the accuracy and effectiveness of the weapon, gradually increase the power.
Researchers at Belarusian State Technical University have developed a high-precision, high-efficiency green laser pointer process and equipment for cutting metal materials. The process and equipment can be used in the production and preparation section of automobile manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, chemical industry, and enterprises that need to cut sheet metal.
The developed equipment has a power of 500-2000 watts and is most suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The equipment can cut carbon steel slabs up to 18 mm thick, alloy slabs up to 10 mm thick, and aluminum alloy billets up to 12 mm thick, with a cutting speed of 20 meters /Min, the precision of the incision surface reaches Ra2.5. The process and equipment have been applied in more than 50 enterprises in Russia.
Laser cutting technology has the following advantages: 1. High precision; 2. Narrow cutting seam; 3. Smooth cutting surface; 4. Fast speed; 5. Good cutting quality; 6. No damage to the workpiece; 7. Not affected by the shape of the workpiece; 8. Not affected by the hardness of the material being cut; 9. Saving mold investment; 10. Saving materials, etc. Laser cutting technology is widely used in the processing of metal and non-metal materials, which can greatly reduce the processing time, reduce the processing cost, and improve the quality of the workpiece.