The Advanced Tactical Laser: A progenitor for widespread battlefield laser weapons

Engineers are looking towards weaponized laser systems deployed by 2014. Military planners are contemplating adding a big scary laser to the B-1B bomber. Laser weaponry development including compact solid state lasers, may surpass railguns as the next generation weapon of choice. Whilst railguns can offer impressive beyond line of sight performance, lasers are for all intentions instantanous. This provides almost all properly guided laser weapons system offensive or defensive, with a possible missile defense capability. A large warship may be allowed to come in close to say fjords or a mountainous coastline, and be able to defend itself from antiship missiles whilst attacking targets as far as the eye can see. If high power directed energy weapons become the support fire element of the next generation of combat, warfare will change to favor the technologically equipped combatant.

The Russians are worried

The Russians see our big-dollar high technology development projects as a threat. They see the X-37B, railgun testing, laser platforms, and high energy radio weapons as a means to usurp their own advancements in arms. Their Space Agency has drawn up new plans for a "theoretical" weaponized satellite vehicle designed to blast foreign satellites. This is in addition to testing new ballistic missiles designed to defeat interceptors. Lets take a look at one small program that has the Russians gnashing their teeth over not having an indigenous version.

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The laser gunship program today uses a C-130 platform coupled with a Chemical-Oxygen-Iodine-Laser, a bulky apparatus that fills the entire cargo bay. Using a 130 cm retractable turret, it can fire a moderately powerful blast capable of igniting and destroying flammables, tires, ostensibly living things, and emplaced defenses. The moderate power is partially due to

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footnotes

The picture I have manipulated above displays the modifications required by the air force lab.

mention extreme loss of power, vibration. jitter reqs. and such for modified c130 important, large fan diam. ac130+ac27 ops considered, 2x ac27, or mix. or one mature ac130 w/laser

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