Pew! Airborne Military Laser Takes Out Truck on Video

Popular Science.com ^ | 10/01/09 | Stewart Fox

[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.

[Reaganesque]

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.

[DocRock]

"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!

[Red Badger]

What laser? I saw Billy Mays do that with lighter fluid on a car’s hood once!..................

[nagdt]

Very cool. Stealthy. Scary. I wonder if it can penatrate rock walls? (Bin Laden caves???)

[TexasRepublic]

“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!

[subterfuge]

Air Force Scientific Advisory Board said that "the Advanced Tactical Laser testbed has no operational utility."

Sure it doesn't. wink wink

[FroggyTheGremlim]

[Cyclone59]

All I see are scenes from that movie Pentagon Wars. Very funny and unforturnately true.

[MrB]

[ArrogantBustard]

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.

[steve86]

The tracking/targeting is impressive. The amount of energy isn’t...YET!

[Carpe Cerevisi]

Spontaneous human combustion for the win!

[subterfuge]

WE don’t want the news of new military technology floating around out there so the liberals can get it canceled out.

[rbg81]

Haha...I was wondering if anyone would post a “Real Genius” clip.

[The Great RJ]

Cool, but I would like to see the effects of the tungsten rods delivered via an ICBM warhead ..the so-called “rods from God”.

[MrB]

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?”

[2001convSVT]

I wonder what would happen if you used the same laser on the liquid oxygen tank of a ICBM missile at launch?

[Reaganesque]

Kaboom!!

[1st I.D Vet]

Thats exactly what they have planned for this flying cyclops.

http://www.astroengine.com/?p=5063

Think: strategic bomber, anti-satellite, anti-jet, missile-shield.

a might fine Hoooaahhh for this bad bird!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YAL-1

[cavador]

If this works,then that means the gun crews on the AC-130's will be out of a job.