Posted on 12/17/2015 10:48:10 AM PST by Red Badger
The invention of guns took warfare to a whole new level. Later, airplanes radically changed it again. Now, experts say another big shift is coming, led by energy weapons, including lasers.
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, said it's on track to demonstrate a working laser weapon on a fighter jet by 2020.
"It really is a national tipping point," said Kelly Hammett, chief engineer for the AFRL's directed energy directorate. "We see the technology evolving and maturing to the stage where it really can be used."
Arming larger planes with laser weapons has been possible for years.
But the more difficult challenge is to create lasers small, accurate and powerful enough for fighter jets, Hammett said. The g-forces and vibrations of near supersonic speeds make that tough. Hammett said he thinks those hurdles can be overcome within five years.
The AFRL is also working on another idea that sounds like something from "Star Trek":
You might call it a defensive laser shield — as in, "Shields up, Mr. Sulu."
Here's how it would work: A 360-degree laser bubble would surround a U.S. warplane. That bubble would disable or destroy anything that comes inside, like a missile or another aircraft.
To invent such a shield, you'd need a turret that doesn't interfere with the aerodynamics of the warplane. A turret like that has already been successfully tested under Hammett at AFRL in partnership with Lockheed Martin and DARPA, the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
"It's a huge deal," Hammett said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
General: Test in the works using an F-15 Eagle fighter
Video at link.....................
I suspect that explosives store energy quite compactly and lightly.
According to the article, as long as the aircraft has fuel to run itself, the weapons are loaded...........
Not to be outdone, the Navy announced laser-armed sharks by 2017.
That may soon become a reality.......................
Imagine a dedicated ground attack aircraft like the A10 armed with a laser.
One of the possible future adaptations of the F-35 airframe was to use the F-35B as a laser platform. The advantage was to use the shaft drive normally used to drive the lift fan to drive a generator instead.
The VTOL F-35 motors has 10,000 shaft hp to drive the lift fan.
If that 10,000hp ran a generator, that is a lot of watts to charge a super capacitor.
OK. Now imagine a ground defense system armed with a laser and pointing it at an A10.
Still a more realistic weapon system than the F35 Turkey
Lasers on planes are great, but having a powerful military still won’t keep us from losing wars like Vietnam, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, ISIS/Syria, etc...
those are solely political problems.
I wonder what the maximum effective range and the maximum range would be on laser weapons?
“Imagine a dedicated ground attack aircraft like the A10 armed with a laser.”
The article mentioned a goal to put a laser aboard an AC-130 by 2020. They are ground attack aircraft, which can loiter high over a target area for hours engaging targets, and can refuel in-flight. They are big enough to carry a large weapon, and to provide a lot of power.
It would be super if the laser could be effective in a non-visible frequency - no warning whatsoever.
I’m quite sure THAT info would be ‘classified’.........................
I’m quite sure THAT info would be ‘classified’.........................
Then I’m sure it could be found in Hildabeast’s email!
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