wraggster
September 9th, 2014, 21:39
http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/c104a6aa85484279fe5958afd0300bb7/200706782/HEL+MD+hires.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/06/boeing-anti-uav-laser/)
Boeing has (http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/14/boeings-airborne-laser-shines-a-light-on-a-missile-mid-flight/) a pretty storied history (http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/04/boeings-air-to-ground-laser-test-a-success-and-we-have-the-vid/) with lasers and now its testing one that can take out UAVs and rockets (http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/12/boeing-747-destroys-ballistic-missile-with-laser/)regardless of where it's installed. A recent trial run of the tech was conducted in Florida under some pretty grueling conditions (heavy fog, rain and wind), to prove that even a lower-powered version of High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator -- HEL MD for short -- is capable in a maritime environment (http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/boeing-and-bae-partner-to-put-a-laser-on-a-machine-gun-make-the/). As Boeing tells it (http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2014-09-04-Boeing-Laser-Demonstrator-Destroys-Targets-through-Wind-and-Fog#assets_117), the firm exceeded all of its goals and successfully engaged with some 150 different targets including drones (http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/29/isis-militants-drones-propaganda/) and 60mm mortar shells with its 10 kilowatt laser. Wired says (http://www.wired.com/2014/09/armys-new-laser-cannon-blasts-drones-out-of-the-sky-even-in-fog/?mbid=social_twitter) that the energy beam is powered by lithium ion batteries, and that the whole setup only requires a diesel-backed generator to keep the wheels of war defense moving. Meaning, running out of fuel, not munitions, is basically the only threat the energy weapon faces.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/06/boeing-anti-uav-laser/
Boeing has (http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/14/boeings-airborne-laser-shines-a-light-on-a-missile-mid-flight/) a pretty storied history (http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/04/boeings-air-to-ground-laser-test-a-success-and-we-have-the-vid/) with lasers and now its testing one that can take out UAVs and rockets (http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/12/boeing-747-destroys-ballistic-missile-with-laser/)regardless of where it's installed. A recent trial run of the tech was conducted in Florida under some pretty grueling conditions (heavy fog, rain and wind), to prove that even a lower-powered version of High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator -- HEL MD for short -- is capable in a maritime environment (http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/boeing-and-bae-partner-to-put-a-laser-on-a-machine-gun-make-the/). As Boeing tells it (http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2014-09-04-Boeing-Laser-Demonstrator-Destroys-Targets-through-Wind-and-Fog#assets_117), the firm exceeded all of its goals and successfully engaged with some 150 different targets including drones (http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/29/isis-militants-drones-propaganda/) and 60mm mortar shells with its 10 kilowatt laser. Wired says (http://www.wired.com/2014/09/armys-new-laser-cannon-blasts-drones-out-of-the-sky-even-in-fog/?mbid=social_twitter) that the energy beam is powered by lithium ion batteries, and that the whole setup only requires a diesel-backed generator to keep the wheels of war defense moving. Meaning, running out of fuel, not munitions, is basically the only threat the energy weapon faces.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/06/boeing-anti-uav-laser/