Boeing's Air to Surface LASER

[spacelifejunkie]

I knew about the anti ballistic missile air defence system but this is the first I've heard about a ground weapon. Exciting stuff. Quote...<br /><br />"The installation of the high-energy laser shows that the ATL program continues to make tremendous progress toward giving the warfighter a speed-of-light, precision engagement capability that will dramatically reduce collateral damage," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "Next year, we will fire the laser at ground targets, demonstrating the military utility of this transformational directed energy weapon."<br /><br />http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Boeing_Installs_High_Energy_Laser_On_Laser_Gunship_Aircraft_999.html<br /><br />

 

[docm]

IIRC a smaller version is also being looked at for the F-35 Lightning II. They would take the lift fan out of the STOVL version and replace it with the laser and a generator driven by the lift fans shaft. There is ~100 cu/ft there to play with. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>