Laser weapons have played a leading role in science fiction for decades. At present, this weapon has finally become a reality in the US military, although its power is slightly worse than in the movie. The lightsaber is a weapon favored by the Jedi Knights in the “Star Wars” series of movies, but it seems to be science fiction at the moment. But after decades of research and development, laser pointer weapons are now available and are being deployed on military vehicles and aircraft.
Defense giants such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon are developing prototype laser weapons for the Pentagon. Since 2014, the Navy has been experimenting with a 30 kW laser weapon on the US warship Ponce. Lockheed Martin has just announced the successful development of a 60 kW laser weapon, which will soon be installed on an Army truck to conduct operational tests against mortar shells and small drones.
Jim Murdock, the company’s head of international business development, told reporters that the weapon can lock the drone for a few seconds from a distance of about 500 yards (1 yard is about 0.9 meters) and then destroy it. But unlike in the movie, the laser beam is invisible to the naked eye. By aiming the light beam at the target, this technology can warm up an incoming mortar shell, causing it to explode in the air. This is a remarkable achievement because mortar shells can reach hundreds of miles per hour.
This laser weapon can also penetrate the shell of a drone and burn critical circuits, causing the drone to crash. At present, the lasers being tested are almost equally powerful. Mark Gunzinger, a senior researcher at the Strategy and Budget Evaluation Center, believes that the power of laser weapons is increasing rapidly. He predicted that it would only take a few years to develop more powerful prototype weapons with a power of more than 150 kilowatts.
Such a green laser pointer can destroy the missile from the flank-where the missile is most vulnerable. Gunzinger said that the special forces hope to test such a system in 2020. The system will be installed on an AC-130 armed transport aircraft that specifically supports the ground forces. He also said that after 6 to 8 years, the US military may start using laser systems with a power of more than 300 kilowatts.