Chief of Naval Research Talks up Innovations

choi

Matthew Klunder, Laser Cannons and Railguns Join the Navy Arsenal. Wall Street Journal, May 16, 2014 (in the page Opinion).
online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303532704579481121470707880

Quote:

“Maritime strength is essential: 80% of the world's population lives near the sea; 90% of all world trade travels by ocean.

“This summer the Navy will deploy a laser cannon at sea for the first time and plans to test an electromagnetic railgun on a ship in 2016. The laser cannon delivers an invisible beam of energy with pinpoint accuracy that can take out an incoming plane, drone or boat. The electromagnetic railgun—using electricity rather than gunpowder—will defend against incoming missiles and opposing ships, and project power far inland by launching low-cost guided projectiles hundreds of miles at hypervelocity speeds over Mach 7. * * * there is no limit to how many rounds a laser can fire, and at just $1 per shot, laser cannons will save the Pentagon (and taxpayers) many millions once fully deployed.

“We're also developing Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicles, which will enable undersea operations as never before. It won't be long before unmanned, intelligent swarming vehicles from under, on and above the sea are able to overwhelm adversaries' vessels and protect US ships.

My comment:
(a) There is no need to read the rest, because all things he discusses are familiar.
(b) Part of US Department of Navy--Department of Marines does not exist, Marine Corps being under Department of Navy --Office of Naval Research (ONR, whose head is Chief of Naval Research; distinct from Office of Chief of Naval Operations) has as its research arm  
Naval Research Laboratory (for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps; opened in 1923 at the instigation of Thomas Edison; main campus in Washington DC with eight field sites and satellite facilities in other states).  Wikipedia
(c) Effectiveness of Laser guns might be affected by inclement weathers.
(d) David Hambling, Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Steaming Ahead. Aviation Week, Apr 1, 2012
aviationweek.com/awin/large-displacement-unmanned-underwater-vehicle-steaming-ahead
(“[hopefully] carrying out missions at long distances for months [current battery technology is 28 hours]. * * * Ultimately, it is likely to be armed. The program sounds ambitious, but much of the technology has already been proven. Boeing's Echo Ranger is setting the pace for LDUUV technology. * * * The Navy's autonomy requirements call for it to operate without human assistance in shallow water littered with obstacles [including fishing nets]. In the first 18-month phase the craft will work at shallow depths of as little as 100 ft, calling on an operator via satellite link in challenging situations”)
(ii) Echo Ranger, Boeing, January 2014
www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/bds/me ... cho_ranger_0114.pdf
(18-foot-long (5.6-meter); Capable of diving to 10,000 feet (3,000 meters))