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'Star Wars' on the high seas: U.S. Navy to deploy laser weapon this summer

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thisnumbersdisconnected

New Member
BATH, Maine – Some of the Navy's futuristic weapons sound like something out of "Star Wars," with lasers designed to shoot down aerial drones and electric guns that fire projectiles at hypersonic speeds.

That future is now.

The Navy plans to deploy its first laser on a ship later this year, and it intends to test an electromagnetic rail gun prototype aboard a vessel within two years.

For the Navy, it's not so much about the whiz-bang technology as it is about the economics of such armaments. Both costs pennies on the dollar compared with missiles and smart bombs, and the weapons can be fired continuously, unlike missiles and bombs, which eventually run out.

"It fundamentally changes the way we fight," said Capt. Mike Ziv, program manager for directed energy and electric weapon systems for the Naval Sea Systems Command.
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There are problems with the laser and rail guns systems. Lasers lose effectiveness if there is rain, fog, dust or turbulence in the air. Rail guns, which fire projectiles long distances at six to seven times the speed of sound, require huge electrical supplies. The Navy says it has found a way to deal with both.

What do you think? Are we getting too fancy for our own good? Or is this technology a good way to fight the wars of the future?
 
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prophet

Active Member
Site Supporter
thisnumbersdisconnected said:
There are problems with the laser and rail guns systems. Lasers lose effectiveness if there is rain, fog, dust or turbulence in the air. Rail guns, which fire projectiles long distances at six to seven times the speed of sound, require huge electrical supplies. The Navy says it has found a way to deal with both.

What do you think? Are we getting too fancy for our own good? Or is this technology a good way to fight the wars of the future?
Click to expand...

Nuclear powered ships generate enough juice to support the rail gun.
How often will you need to fire it continuously?
 
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