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Pew! Airborne Military Laser Takes Out Truck on Video
Popular Science.com ^
| 10/01/09
| Stewart Fox
Posted on 10/02/2009 8:50:56 AM PDT by Reaganesque
In a recent test at the White Sands Missile Range, a specially equipped C-130 plane fried a parked truck with a powerful laser. And while we still haven't seen evidence of the laser "defeating" a ground target, as Boeing puts it, a video of it scorching a direct hit on the hood of a truck is still pretty amazing.
Click here for the video.
As you can see, the laser beam burns right through the truck's hood, and then through the engine, "defeating" the vehicle. Called the "Advanced Tactical Laser" (ATL), this is the first time the megawatt-powered chemical laser has been used to engage a target in a combat simulation situation.
Now, to be far(sic), the car was parked by itself in the middle of the desert. So unless we've got a clean shot at Al-Qaeda's parking lot, the beam isn't ready for prime time. Plus, last year the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board said that "the Advanced Tactical Laser testbed has no operational utility."
Despite those reservations, Boeing is still confident that the laser will soon provide a weapon that can take out a target with little or no collateral damage.
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: airborne; laser; military; truck
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The article contradicts itself saying that it didn't "defeat" the truck and then that it did. It is interesting video though. That a C-130 could hit a truck with a laser with such a high degree of accuracy is quite amazing. Lasers have interesting potential as a weapon. A tanker truck full of fuel for military vehicles in a convoy suddenly explodes with no warning and no obvious attacker. Or a despot somewhere is out in his backyard and suddenly he bursts into flame for no apparent reason. The prospects are intriguing and scary at the same time.
To: Reaganesque
"Or a despot somewhere is out in his backyard and suddenly he bursts into flame for no apparent reason" That's the ticket to winning wars before they begin!
2
posted on
10/02/2009 8:57:27 AM PDT
by
DocRock
(All they that TAKE the sword shall perish with the sword. Matthew 26:52 Gun grabbers beware.)
To: Reaganesque
What laser? I saw Billy Mays do that with lighter fluid on a car’s hood once!..................
3
posted on
10/02/2009 8:57:56 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(The Zero has more airtime than Michael Jordan...........)
To: Reaganesque
Very cool. Stealthy. Scary. I wonder if it can penatrate rock walls? (Bin Laden caves???)
4
posted on
10/02/2009 8:58:25 AM PDT
by
nagdt
("speak the truth but leave immediately afterward")
To: Reaganesque
“Or a despot somewhere is out in his backyard and suddenly he bursts into flame for no apparent reason.”
Allah is displeased, unworthy servant! Poof!
5
posted on
10/02/2009 8:59:57 AM PDT
by
TexasRepublic
(Obama = Jim Jones coercing us into suicide on a national scale)
To: Reaganesque
Air Force Scientific Advisory Board said that "the Advanced Tactical Laser testbed has no operational utility." Sure it doesn't. wink wink
6
posted on
10/02/2009 9:09:31 AM PDT
by
subterfuge
(BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NOW!!!)
To: Reaganesque
To: Reaganesque
All I see are scenes from that movie Pentagon Wars. Very funny and unforturnately true.
8
posted on
10/02/2009 9:12:11 AM PDT
by
Cyclone59
(I ROCK, Guitar Hero said so........)
To: subterfuge
9
posted on
10/02/2009 9:12:35 AM PDT
by
MrB
(Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
To: Reaganesque
A tanker truck full of fuel for military vehicles in a convoy suddenly explodes with no warning and no obvious attacker. Fry the lead vehicle.
Fry the tail vehicle.
Fry any vehicle that poses a threat to the conventionally armed AH64/A10/whatever coming in to mop up the convoy.
10
posted on
10/02/2009 9:13:34 AM PDT
by
ArrogantBustard
(Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
To: Reaganesque
The tracking/targeting is impressive. The amount of energy isn’t...YET!
11
posted on
10/02/2009 9:14:58 AM PDT
by
steve86
(Acerbic by nature, not nurture)
To: DocRock
Spontaneous human combustion for the win!
To: MrB
WE don’t want the news of new military technology floating around out there so the liberals can get it canceled out.
13
posted on
10/02/2009 9:28:14 AM PDT
by
subterfuge
(BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NOW!!!)
To: MrB
Haha...I was wondering if anyone would post a “Real Genius” clip.
14
posted on
10/02/2009 9:28:36 AM PDT
by
rbg81
(DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
To: Reaganesque
Cool, but I would like to see the effects of the tungsten rods delivered via an ICBM warhead ..the so-called “rods from God”.
15
posted on
10/02/2009 9:52:38 AM PDT
by
The Great RJ
("The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." M. Thatcher)
To: subterfuge
Isn’t that the truth -
whenever there is an announcement of a successful military system,
our first thought is “how soon before the left demands it be cancelled?”
16
posted on
10/02/2009 10:51:16 AM PDT
by
MrB
(Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
To: Reaganesque
I wonder what would happen if you used the same laser on the liquid oxygen tank of a ICBM missile at launch?
17
posted on
10/02/2009 11:10:24 AM PDT
by
2001convSVT
("Only Property Owners that pay taxes should have the right to Vote")
To: 2001convSVT
To: 2001convSVT
19
posted on
10/05/2009 9:14:40 AM PDT
by
1st I.D Vet
(laser, defense, Ronald Regan, black ops)
To: Reaganesque
If this works,then that means the gun crews on the AC-130's will be out of a job.
20
posted on
01/21/2010 4:50:30 AM PST
by
cavador
(Wash your Hands-Cover that sneeze!It helps stop the H1N1 Virus)
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