US /

US Navy Touts New Laser Weapon

And plans to test it next year in the Middle East
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 8, 2013 7:07 PM CDT

Navy officials announced a new laser weapon today, saying it's designed to destroy small boats and send aerial vehicles crashing into the sea, Fox News reports. A prototype will be mounted on the USS Ponce and tried out in the 5th fleet region of the Middle East next year. The Navy also released a video of the laser locking on an unmanned drone and causing it to catch fire and crash. "It operates much like a blowtorch ... with an unlimited magazine," said an official.

At about $32 million each, the weapon is far cheaper than the Air Force's abandoned $1.5 billion nose-mounted lasers—and Navy researchers say their version hit every time in testing. But it fares less well in bad weather, requires a direct line of sight to the target, and could be rendered ineffective by a drone or vessel coated with a reflective surface, the New York Times reports. Meanwhile, the Navy is looking into a more versatile free-electron laser and a "rail gun" that fires bullets several times faster than the speed of sound. (More laser stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X