Sci/Tech The flying laser cannon

[Insane!]

Boeing’s new laser cannon will melt a car from five miles away, in seconds. -Its ready to fly this year too.

Scientists at Boeing’s Laboratory will put a 40,000 pound chemical laser into the belly of a C-130 gunship and take aim at targets over five miles away! We are not talking about soda cans - Boeing’s laser can melt cars, trucks, and even tanks! These are the kind of things that missles and rockets would hit. The ATL, advanced tactical laser, can strike in rapid succession, and move at the speed of light.

Precise control over the beam allows it to hit targets a few inches wide and focus its power on that one spot. Future versions could be mounted on smaller vehicles like trucks and helicopters.

Popular Science 2008 April

Popular Sciece

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[EatShrooms]

Inefficient. Missiles can be launched from aircrafts much farther than that.

 

[WastedSavior]

Missiles cost a great deal of money
can be neutralized by anti-ballistics
Are not nearly as fast as the speed of light

 

[hell_knight]

Point laser at missle , melt it =D

I guess this is better than dropping bombs killing innocent people.

 

[Myzteryz]

The thing about new revolutionary weapon technology is that it eventually gets into the wrong hands.. :/

 

[Andyoyo]

Point laser at missle , melt it =D

I guess this is better than dropping bombs killing innocent people.

I agree on one hand, but this could lead to a very different kind of war, as well as future. I mean this is right of a star-wars movie.

Now if they could only find a way to use this to make a lightsaber

 

[seph ir oth]

They asked my dad to go up to NY to help put it on and make sure its up and running properly a few days ago. He's gonna leave in a week and be up there for a few weeks workin on it.

Weird coincidence you posted this. Quite neat.

 

[sqrage]

They asked my dad to go up to NY to help put it on and make sure its up and running properly a few days ago. He's gonna leave in a week and be up there for a few weeks workin on it.

Weird coincidence you posted this. Quite neat.

Where in NY?

The article doesn't mention...

 

[Varine]

How come everything cool starts coming out as soon as I get discharged? I need to go find a way to re-enlist....

Missiles = expensive, avoidable, and can misfire. This probably won't be used much for a while, though, because of the energy it takes, and I'm sure it costs a lot and I doubt it's going to be man-portable within the near future, and we can't call planes in to take everything out.

 

[uberfoop]

Meh, this is how weapon progress goes. I'm baffled if anyone has taken this long to notice how uber lasers are, considering that competitors eg russia have been looking into laser-resistant stuff for years (actually, decades), and EVERYONE has been focusing on stealth weaponry.

 

[Varine]

Meh, this is how weapon progress goes. I'm baffled if anyone has taken this long to notice how uber lasers are, considering that competitors eg russia have been looking into laser-resistant stuff for years (actually, decades), and EVERYONE has been focusing on stealth weaponry.

It's not that no one's noticed how destructive they can be, it's that it's really hard to make one that works properly and uses way too much energy to make one powerful enough to be damaging.

 

[dunpealx4]

yea i just read the article about this from popular science magazine. it shows how it works and how to melt a tank in 3 seconds. its really amazing. now, Ion Cannon is no longer a dream. soon we will have Ion Cannon shoot from satellite like USA in Command and Conquer General. LOL!

 

[seph ir oth]

Where in NY?

The article doesn't mention...

He said northern NY last I talked to him...Albany maybe?

 

[Varine]

He said northern NY last I talked to him...Albany maybe?

Griffiss is the only Air Force Base I can think of. There's a USAFRES base near Niagra Falls, and a few ANG bases with airstrips. Can't think of anywhere else they would be testing things like this at, and Griffiss would be the most likely.

 

[hell_knight]

I agree on one hand, but this could lead to a very different kind of war, as well as future. I mean this is right of a star-wars movie.

Now if they could only find a way to use this to make a lightsaber

40000 pound light saber

 

[Asehujiko]

yea i just read the article about this from popular science magazine. it shows how it works and how to melt a tank in 3 seconds. its really amazing. now, Ion Cannon is no longer a dream. soon we will have Ion Cannon shoot from satellite like USA in Command and Conquer General. LOL!

That's the particle cannon, not the ion cannon.

Ion cannons belong to GDI.

Also, Scudstorm does the same as particle cannons but with about 50 times more splash.

 

[Varine]

40000 pound light saber

Put that lightsaber on Japan's upcoming Mech thing, you got yourself a General Grievous! Well... almost, anyway.

 

[konerboy]

In a way i think it's cool they make new weapons.

we properly need it someday agaist aliens lolz.

but serius though could we win if a Space army arrived?? properly not we need fire power and plasma shields.

 

[Flare]

hmmm, flying laser cannon. sounds like fun to melt something from 5 miles away. 40,000 pound lightsaber ftw!

 

[Rad]

Also, Scudstorm does the same as particle cannons but with about 50 times more splash.

Particle cannons recharge twice as fast and don't take 20 seconds to fly through the air

But as for this flying laser plane, I wonder how a plane flying really fast and all can keep the laser straight for that few seconds that it does take to melt the tank.

I mean is it constant fire or does it streak across the ground?

Very neat.