anhinga_anhinga | Laser weapons are here

Northrop Grumman says its new 15kW FIRESTRIKE continuous fire solid-state laser is ready for orders by US military services.

A 400lb relatively compact device, can be combined into a 100kW battery, continuous run-time as long as power and coolant are provided, "designed as a line replaceable unit (LRU) for battlefield applications".

"Energy efficiency for Northrop's chains is supposedly in the 20 per cent region. This suggests that a full-bore 100kW battle ray will weigh about 1.5 tonnes and require half a megawatt of power.. within the ballpark for modern combat vehicles."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIRESTRIKE
http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=154600
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/14/weaponised_rayguns_hit_shelves_in_time_for_xmas
http://gizmodo.com/5088023/firestrike-is-worlds-first-battlefield-solid+state-laser-available-to-order-now

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dm_raznosol

Science fiction is becoming reality..