U.S. Navy to test laser weapon aboard ship in Persian Gulf

[MindMover]

Source: LATIMES

The Navy plans to install a laser weapon prototype on a ship this summer for at-sea testing in the Persian Gulf.

The technology, called the Laser Weapon System, will be the first of its kind to be deployed, the Navy said.

The idea is that the laser could zap dangerous swarming small boats and flying drones while on the USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf. Its power also can be scaled down, presenting the Navy a non-lethal alternative to ward off threats such as pirates, terrorists and smugglers.

"This is a revolutionary capability," said Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder in a statement. "It's absolutely critical that we get this out to sea with our sailors for these trials, because this very affordable technology is going to change the way we fight and save lives."
It was developed by engineers and scientists from the Navy, defense industry and academia. It involves commercial fiber solid-state lasers and has already successfully shot down flying targets.



Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-navy-laser-weapon-20140407,0,5800600.story#axzz2yEnpojWt

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so the non lethal laser gives you a bad sunburn ... ?

[pangaia]

1. "....this very affordable technology is going to change the way we fight and save lives."

Yup.
1- Affordable, yup
2- save lives, yup

Double yup..
Why is making war so often explained as saving lives?

[MindMover]

2. they just keep droning on and on and on about saving lives ....

[Plucketeer]

3. "....this very affordable technology is going to change the way we fight and save lives."

Why that bogus BS???

Because it sounds better'n "to change the way we fight and fry folks."

[Sgent]

4. I assume

the non-lethal powered version is intended to destroy an engine or punch a hole in a hull, rather than obliterate the vessel (aka a missile).

I think its non-lethal in the same way a 50-cal sniper rifle is non-lethal (assuming it could be accurately fired). It can disable a craft without blowing it up.

[Angleae]

7. Actually it's intended for use on incoming missiles or other small fast nearby targets.

As a replacement for the current CIWS. The non-lethal setting will never be used except for testing/excersises.

[bloomington-lib]

5. The non-lethal laser could work like this

"The idea behind the Thermal Laser System, which attaches to a rifle, is to use a laser to create a heating sensation to repel adversaries. The effect is similar to Active Denial Technology, which heats the outer layer of the skin to safely repel individuals. Non-lethal thermal laser technology has the potential to address the counterpersonnel capability gaps of denying individuals access to an area, moving individuals in or out of an area and suppressing individuals. These capabilities can provide warfighters with additional escalation-of-force options with effects that are immediately reversible compared with non-lethal blunt-trauma munitions"

http://jnlwp.defense.gov/PressRoom/MediaReleases/tabid/4778/Article/4379/non-lethal-thermal-laser-prototype-evaluated.aspx

[MindMover]

6. that makes sense ... now onto sound machines ... creating deafening sound to disperse crowds ...

[Swede Atlanta]

8. Why?

I am all for finding systems and processes that protect the lives of our men and women.

But why can we invest so much in technology designed to kill and maim and virtually no investment in people such as pre-natal care, health care for all, education for all, roads, bridges, electric grid, etc.?

Why? Because Eisenhower was correct. We are now living the hell of a military-industrial complex that is complemented by a Supreme Court that believes money is speech. Last time I checked speech was something you uttered from your mouth, not from your wallet. I think the Supremes need to go back to grammar school.