Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

data in Figure May 2: U.S. Navy laser weapons

Wall Street Journal published an article that, in the face of the opponent’s long-range precision-guided weapons, the United States is seeking high-tech defense. U.S. naval experts said that the Navy warships in six years using the solid-state laser power is sufficient to deal with Iran and other countries of the anti-ship cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and fast attack fleet. Also in six years, the Air Force and Army can also be applied foundation megawatt-class chemical laser to protect an important base in the Persian Gulf and the Western Pacific.

article pointed out that the last two decades, from the first Gulf War to the bombing of Libya in recent action, the U.S. military deployment and supply forces almost never face difficulties. Competitors and potential enemies of the United States – from China to Hezbollah – has taken note of this situation is to seek long-range precision guided weapons, the threat to the United States through the establishment of a large number of “kill zone” around airports, ports and depots, Army. Such a threat far more difficult to cope with the U.S. military encountered a roadside bomb in Afghanistan and Iraq. Although the Pentagon is aware of this threat, but to deal with this threat is very old-fashioned and costly. In the face of budget cuts, the Pentagon still continue to emphasize the value of millions of dollars interceptors intercept enemy low-cost missiles and rockets, which makes the U.S. military at a disadvantage in the cost competitiveness, while opponents would like to see the trend continue.

article said the U.S. military can more effectively to defend themselves from attack, increase the cost of the enemy to combat. One solution is to attack the opponent on the ground rockets and missile launchers to destroy them before the weapons to be effective. However, this kind of “repression” attacks need to find and destroy a highly mobile missile launchers, artillery and mortar troops, this is a great challenge. The better alternative, complementary approach is the use of high-tech, dramatically reducing the crack down on costs – that is, a new generation of high power lasers. High-power laser weapon prototype or not effective enough, or too bulky, or two shortcomings have. A modified military Boeing 747 equipped with a chemical laser weapon has been canceled, this is the latest example of laser weapons failed to achieve its objectives. Perhaps in the late 19th century, several decades does not play a role in wartime rapidly becoming a powerful weapon of submarines and torpedoes, laser weapons will eventually enter the heyday of.

article pointed out that the solid-state laser technology has made tremendous progress (which means the laser can be solid or fiber rather than a liquid or gas, a deadly beam), high power at very low unit launch cost level, and unit price may be more than 10 million U.S. dollars of traditional missile interceptors in sharp contrast. U.S. Navy experts say, within six years has developed and proven technology in the test-firing in solid-state lasers, they can use in warships, power enough to deal with Iran and other countries of the anti-ship cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and fast attack fleet. These lasers can reduce the warships carrying bulky and expensive defense ammunition, to make room for other weapons. And solid-state lasers, new chemical laser to produce than its previous generations and greater power output, able to cope with a lot of air and missile threats, including long-range ballistic missile. The same within the next six years, the use of the Airborne Laser R & D technology, the Air Force and Army can be applied to foundation megawatt-class chemical laser, to help protect an important base in the Persian Gulf and the Western Pacific.

article, of course, the laser weapon also has its limitations. Inclement weather will reduce its effectiveness (the same is true of many other weapons), and hunting ballistic missile warheads and other difficult targets will need to multi-megawatts of laser power. However, the combination of suppression of attacks and defense, high-power lasers can significantly improve the defense of the army, reduce costs, but also makes the enemy’s plans become more complex. Other countries – especially Russia and China – see the new potential of these weapons, and is actively investing in these weapons. The Pentagon plans to cut the funding of research in this area, although the investment in this area each year slightly more than 500 million, well over 10 billion U.S. dollars in investment in other conventional air and missile defense. Due to the need to increase competitors’ costs, while reducing its cost, this imbalance will make the U.S. more worried. The Defense Department says it is to maintain technological superiority of its new strategic guidance “may provide important long-term benefits of the key innovations flow to maintain a top priority.” Unfortunately, the driving force of the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta or Congress, high power lasers seems unlikely in a time shortly after from the laboratory stage into production. If so, the U.S. military, as in Afghanistan and Iraq, only once again on the threat to respond, not action before threats emerge. (Spring)

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