Laser Weapon Performs Well; Not Targeting Missile, Though

choi

Julian E Barnes, Navy Tests Laser Weapon on Drones, Boats. Wall Street Journal, Dec 10, 2014.
www.wsj.com/articles/navy-tests- ... es-boats-1418182202

Quote:

"Each shot from the prototype laser was 59 cents, said Rear Adm Matthew L Klunder, chief of naval research. Using a Standard Missile-2, a common surface-to-air weapon, would cost the Navy roughly $400,000.

"The Navy recently finished its three-month test in the Persian Gulf on the USS Ponce, outfitted with the prototype laser. Navy officials said the Gulf’s heat, humidity and dust make it a difficult environment for naval vessels. Some researchers [before the test had] worried the conditions would hurt the laser’s performance. 'The only way to know if this is effective is to get it in the Gulf,' Adm Greenert said.

"Adm Klunder said that during the test sailors began using the system in ways its developers didn’t fully anticipate, such as for long-range surveillance. Sailors were able to identify approaching vessels at ranges 'they have never dreamed of,' Adm Klunder said. The range of surveillance capabilities is a closely guarded secret. 'We were calling it a Hubble telescope on the water,' Adm Klunder said.

"Mr Hendrix said the current system is made up of six small lasers that form a roughly 30-kilowatt coherent beam. The next laser being developed by the Office of Naval Research will be 150 kilowatts, he said.

My comment: China's generals keep saying laser weapon is impossible, as late as recently. Who to believe?

choi

David Smalley, Press release: Historic Leap: Navy Shipboard Laser Operates in Persian Gulf. Office of Naval Research (ONR), US Navy, Dec 10, 2014.
www.onr.navy.mil/en/Media-Center ... aser-uss-ponce.aspx

Quote:

"the weapon performed flawlessly, including in adverse weather conditions of high winds, heat and humidity.

"The system * * * can address multiple threats using a range of escalating options, from non-lethal measures such as optical 'dazzling' and disabling, to lethal destruction if necessary.

"The announcement confirms continued significant progress on directed-energy weapons

My comment:
(a) There is no need to read the rest of the ONR release.
(b) One may view a video clip in the website of either WSJ or ONR.