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B-1 to Demo Lethal Laser
Aviation Week and Space Technology ^
| 5/7/2010
| Graham Warwick
Posted on 05/08/2010 9:06:24 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
More has emerged on the US Air Force Research Laboratory's Electric Laser on Large Aircraft (ELLA) program and, as anticipated, it's an effort to fit DARPA's Hellads laser into the weapons bay of a B-1B bomber to flight-test a high-power electric laser against tactical targets.
General Atomics and Textron Systems are developing rival 150kW lasers under Hellads, with the goal of demonstrating a laser weapon system weighing less than 5kg/kW - substantially smaller and lighter than any previous airborne laser. Lockheed Martin is designing the laser weapon system module (LWSM), including power, cooling and beam director. Answers to bidder questions on the ELLA RFI reveal AFRL's plans to install the Hellads in the B-1B by "removing the current weapons bay door and installing the LWSM with a conformal base shape that matches the door removed". The B-1B's Sniper pod will be used to target the laser. The current concept for powering and cooling the LWSM is to use batteries and a phase-change material that absorbs heat by melting.
(Excerpt) Read more at aviationweek.com ...
TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: aerospace; b1; darpa; electriclasers; globalstrike; kilowatt; laser; laserweapon; strategicbomber
DARPA's Hellads laser
To: sonofstrangelove
That is soooooo 1980s....
2
posted on
05/08/2010 9:28:27 PM PDT
by
killjoy
(Life sucks, wear a helmet.)
To: killjoy
I was just thinking about that. Its a page from “Real Genius”.
3
posted on
05/08/2010 9:30:52 PM PDT
by
ErnstStavroBlofeld
("I have learned to use the word "impossible" with the greatest caution."-Dr.Wernher Von Braun)
To: killjoy
I was just thinking about that. Its a page from “Real Genius”.
4
posted on
05/08/2010 9:30:53 PM PDT
by
ErnstStavroBlofeld
("I have learned to use the word "impossible" with the greatest caution."-Dr.Wernher Von Braun)
To: sonofstrangelove
The B-1 definitely looks like a plane that should have a laser on it.
5
posted on
05/08/2010 9:34:58 PM PDT
by
The Cajun
(Mind numbed robot , ditto-head, Hannitized, Levinite)
To: sonofstrangelove
I haven’t watched it in a long time but I think they used a B-1 as the laser platform in the movie.
6
posted on
05/08/2010 9:35:01 PM PDT
by
killjoy
(Life sucks, wear a helmet.)
To: killjoy
They did.The characters in the movie sabotage the laser. It is still a funny movie.
7
posted on
05/08/2010 9:36:24 PM PDT
by
ErnstStavroBlofeld
("I have learned to use the word "impossible" with the greatest caution."-Dr.Wernher Von Braun)
To: sonofstrangelove
Will the Weapons Guy have to say " Your my huckleberry" as a failsafe
8
posted on
05/09/2010 12:31:21 AM PDT
by
Waverunner
( "Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too." Voltaire)
To: killjoy
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates who said, “I drank what!?”
9
posted on
05/09/2010 12:33:59 AM PDT
by
CougarGA7
(In order to dream of the future, we need to remember the past. - Bartov)
To: killjoy
I proclaim thee the B-1LSR Jiffypop
10
posted on
05/09/2010 12:35:03 AM PDT
by
Waverunner
( "Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too." Voltaire)
To: sonofstrangelove
Where’s the tank for the frikkin’ shark?
11
posted on
05/09/2010 5:26:05 AM PDT
by
Yo-Yo
(Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
To: Yo-Yo
12
posted on
05/09/2010 5:29:26 AM PDT
by
wally_bert
(It's sheer elegance in its simplicity! - The Middleman)
To: sonofstrangelove
Our top design teams are really coming out with some fantastic concepts.
13
posted on
05/09/2010 9:07:15 PM PDT
by
valkyry1
To: valkyry1
I am really excited about the new weapons that are being developed but we have a very short sighted administration.
14
posted on
05/09/2010 9:08:18 PM PDT
by
ErnstStavroBlofeld
("I have learned to use the word "impossible" with the greatest caution."-Dr.Wernher Von Braun)
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