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US Navy lasers Options
Tomick
#1 Posted : 26 October 2012 09:25:40

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The US Navy are just two years away from arming warships with laser weapons capable of destroying incoming missiles and aircraft!

http://www.dailymail.co....g-missiles-aircraft.html
SennaMentalMe
#2 Posted : 26 October 2012 10:49:49

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Wow!! That's interesting stuff thanks for posting it Tom!!

I note that each shot of the laser is estimated to cost less than 1 US Dollar compared to 800,000 - 1,000,000+ US Dollars PER guided missile? Now that's what I call good fiscal studies!!

Take note David Cameron, we need to buy these, stick 'em on our ships and with the billions saved by not needing conventional weapons and consequently smaller ships, we can start re-building Harriers, Nimrods and all the other Great British icons that you have cancelled in the name of supposed austerity!!


Kev BigGrin
Tomick
#3 Posted : 26 October 2012 11:32:59

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Its a huge step forward, and I wonder how long it will be before the same ends up in Space to target where ever on Earth.
SennaMentalMe
#4 Posted : 26 October 2012 11:54:48

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Hmmmm, good point!! I wonder if there was anything about US space based Laser weapons in that Mayan 'Doomsday' prophecy concerning December 2012 !? LOL LOL

Kev BigGrin
court orchard
#5 Posted : 26 October 2012 12:06:03

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25 years ago I worked for a company producing high powered CO2 pulsed lasers for industrial use and often wondered why somebody wasn't using them as a weapon. Ships are the ideal starting point as these things require huge power supplies, we needed to create gas plasmas at 50000 volts which needed very large heavy oil cooled transformers. The great advantage is of course once you have target acquisition then you have a 196,000 miles/second action which is effectively instantaneous. Effectiveness becomes a problem over significant distances, as even the most precise lenses and mirrors give some divergence of the collimated beam/pulse reducing the energy per unit area dramatically and also some absorption/reflection will occur in Air per unit of distance traveled (not a problem in space obviously) again significantly reducing the beam/pulse strength over large distances.
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SennaMentalMe
#6 Posted : 26 October 2012 13:08:07

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court orchard wrote:
25 years ago I worked for a company producing high powered CO2 pulsed lasers for industrial use and often wondered why somebody wasn't using them as a weapon. Ships are the ideal starting point as these things require huge power supplies, we needed to create gas plasmas at 50000 volts which needed very large heavy oil cooled transformers. The great advantage is of course once you have target acquisition then you have a 196,000 miles/second action which is effectively instantaneous. Effectiveness becomes a problem over significant distances, as even the most precise lenses and mirrors give some divergence of the collimated beam/pulse reducing the energy per unit area dramatically and also some absorption/reflection will occur in Air per unit of distance traveled (not a problem in space obviously) again significantly reducing the beam/pulse strength over large distances.


Wooaahh!!! What was that that just flew straight over the top of my head!!! LOL LOL LOL

Seriously though, great post Andy and you obviously know what you are talking about mate, good stuff even if it is a little difficult to follow for us mere mortals!!

However, being a perfectionist - just donning my nerdy hat hereBigGrin - I would have to correct you on the speed of light that you've stated? Most Scientific/Technical literature including Wikipedia seem to quote it as being a tad over 186,000 miles/second not 196,000 as you've said?? Flapper BigGrin


Kev BigGrin
court orchard
#7 Posted : 26 October 2012 13:13:34

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Well spotted Kev, I thought I'll round it up to 190k and then having 186 in my head typed 196 Blushing
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SennaMentalMe
#8 Posted : 26 October 2012 13:21:13

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court orchard wrote:
Well spotted Kev, I thought I'll round it up to 190k and then having 186 in my head typed 196 Blushing


Oooh - nice one Andy, I just scored points of a genius!!! Go Kev ... Go Kev ... Ooh Yeah ... Ooh Yeah (Just doing a little dance by my PC)!!LOL LOL LOL

Just joshing with you though mate, it was still an excellent and very enlightening post that you made and I forgive you, we all make mistakes - except Tomick - he doesn't!! LOL LOL

Kev BigGrin
Tomick
#9 Posted : 26 October 2012 13:23:44

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LOL LOL Yeah right LOL
SennaMentalMe
#10 Posted : 26 October 2012 13:25:28

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Tomick wrote:
LOL LOL Yeah rightLOL


Well ... not many then!!?? LOL LOL LOL


Kev BigGrin
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