Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser to take out ground targets

While ground-based lasers might provide some semblance of security, what any science fiction fan really wants is aircraft-mounted lasers to take out evildoers whilst patrolling the skies. Fortunately for the American military, that day may come sooner than one might think. Late last week, Boeing announced the "first light" of its "high-energy chemical laser in ground tests, achieving two key milestones in the laser gunship development effort." In other words, the new "Advanced Tactical Laser" can pretty much take out anything on the ground (and we assume eventually in the sky as well). The best part? The laser is scalable, "meaning the weapon operator will be able to select the degree and nature of the damage done to a target by choosing a specific aimpoint and laser shot duration. For example, targeting the fuel tank of a vehicle could result in total destruction of the vehicle, while targeting a tire might result in the vehicle stopping without injury to the driver." Now that's freakin' sweet.

[Amann @ Oct 15th 2006 5:33PM]

ROFL @ that independence day picture

[Zach @ Oct 15th 2006 5:45PM]

I'm waiting on turret and humvee mounted lasers!

-dugg
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/15/boeings-advanced-tactical-laser-to-take-out-ground-targets/

[rajatrajaji @ Jul 22nd 2007 10:54AM]

no doubt.USA is doing ultimate work in the field of lasers.and they are also spending money in war field research.its great work.enjoy usa.whether they will use or not,but they can get a good market and make a good money in future. rajatrajaji

[brad pitt @ Oct 15th 2006 5:49PM]

if indeed that is their 1st choice for a target, then I say kudos to Boeing and may the lord be with them!!!

[narco @ Oct 15th 2006 6:00PM]

Yes, but is it enough to defeat the Goa'uld?

Fishes,
narco.

[Lee @ Oct 15th 2006 6:11PM]

goldeneye, anyone?

[imageburn13 @ Oct 15th 2006 6:19PM]

Oh No, Its Akira!
/They had that tech all the way back in 88.
//Thing was MEAN
///sol

[PJL @ Oct 15th 2006 6:30PM]

Goldeneye?
Try Val Kilmer's debut 'Real Genius'!

[Latin Hobbit @ Oct 15th 2006 6:33PM]

But can the laser take out sharks? I think not.

[Stumungous @ Oct 15th 2006 6:41PM]

Can it destroy mirrors?

If not then there is a pretty big flaw in this weapon...

[rawr @ Oct 15th 2006 7:44PM]

Yes, I've read that this technology cannot be defeated by using mirror armor, because dirt on the surface of the mirror and tiny imperfections would heat up and the whole thing would fail.

[peej @ Oct 15th 2006 9:31PM]

It's called damage threshold, all mirrors have them. Having worked with a terawatt laser system myself I can tell you it's very easy to burn a mirror, all you have to do is focus the laser on the target.

Don't get me wrong though, lasers are just about the dumbest way of destroying shit. They're super hard to align, tempermental, and usually very inefficient. I think this is just a good extuse for boeing to waste taxpayers money while enriching themselves in the process.

[Patrick @ Oct 15th 2006 6:47PM]

Think more along the lines of Real Genius, rather than Goldeneye and Independence Day.

[OPTICAL OUT PLEASE @ Oct 15th 2006 7:07PM]

How about something useful; like armour to protect against improvised explosive devices that are killing 3.5 americans a day in iraq this month?

[Finished Law School @ Oct 15th 2006 7:16PM]

They should use North Korea and Iran as ground based target testing grounds.

[wisoka @ Oct 15th 2006 7:31PM]

IMMA CHARGIN MAH LAZOR!!!

[rawr @ Oct 15th 2006 7:46PM]

Darn it, I meant "No, I've read..."

[HappyApple @ Oct 15th 2006 7:53PM]

Can't we all just get along......

[Dave @ Oct 15th 2006 7:57PM]

Don't be surprised when outspoken American "dissidents" begin dying of "spontaneous human combustion".

[Cade @ Oct 15th 2006 8:23PM]

Stop the research!! You're just arming our future robotic overlords!!!

[John Stracke @ Oct 15th 2006 8:23PM]

So, all Dr. Evil needs is to get Boeing to mount this thing in a shark...along with a bleeping big power plant...

[Pingspike @ Oct 15th 2006 8:24PM]

why has nobody yelled red alert and shields and phasers yet ?...

btw yes it would semi-instantly melt a mirror, and before someone thinks of it, it wouldnt reflect, it would disipate considering the ranges and mirror imperfections etc.

This could be a totally awesome weapon, if only they could aim straight *cough*..

[uclatommy @ Oct 15th 2006 8:49PM]

What about putting rubies all over your vehicle to diffract the lazor? How about a car made out of diamond?

[Jake @ Oct 15th 2006 8:59PM]

That would be a pretty big investment in a vehicle (or any object) that would probably not fare well in the event that lasers are not used and, say, hellfire missiles are. ;-)

[John @ Oct 15th 2006 9:43PM]

As you can see, my young apprentice, your friends have failed. Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL battle station!

[Murc @ Oct 15th 2006 10:50PM]

the author assumes wrong. This thing isn't meant for other aircraft to be its target...which is why the laser is fired out of the bottom of the aircraft...the ABL is meant to take down planes.

Ans lasers are a good offensive and defensive weapon.
The C-130 gunships are allready great...but this will certainly be a nice addition.
It could be great for stealth type of missions, since bullets tend to get peoples attention.

*****For anyone who wants to see just how effective the C-130 gunship really is......Then watch this: Its a video shot from the C-130, they spot terrorists planning an ambush...and from nearly 2 miles away they take em' out!!!
http://filexoom.com/files/16198/Other/IraqiNight.wmv

[Joe091 @ Oct 16th 2006 2:25AM]

You retard, the video you posted is not from a C-130. That's the famous "Apache Killings" video, and if you couldn't tell from the fact that they were HOVERING, they were in a helicopter... an Apache helicopter. An AC-130 circles it's targets from high above... airplanes don't hover.

Oh, and the laser on the plane is meant to take out ICBM's in their boost phase, not airplanes. Although, I'm sure they can take out all sorts of stuff with it if they want to.

[Oddmanout @ Oct 16th 2006 2:12AM]

I'm sorry, I loved Real Genius just as much as anyone, but in this case, "imageburn13" has got it right...


"It's the SOL sir!"

When in doubt..."USE ANOTHER ROUND!"

[Dave @ Oct 16th 2006 2:33AM]

Lasers aren't going to help us get bin Laden unless we can first penetrate the cloaking device he's using in his cave with a tachyon detection grid.

[Robin O'Neil @ Oct 16th 2006 3:24AM]

I wonder if they have got round the problems they had in the 70's: night-time, clouds, range and rercharge time. They called the plane they used as a test-bed the Millenium Falcon.

[Alex G @ Oct 16th 2006 5:27AM]

More importantly, how long until they start mounting these on robots? Thats when we'll know we've REALLY arrived!

[Z @ Oct 16th 2006 5:58AM]

Dr. Evil gets his wish!

[Michael1243 @ Oct 16th 2006 10:53AM]

What about my Sharks, with frickin Lasers on their head.

[wargarurumon @ Oct 16th 2006 11:50AM]

wheeeeeeeeee lasers
my dream will become reality soone'r than i imagined

[TIMMAH! @ Oct 16th 2006 12:47PM]

>>Goldeneye?
>>Try Val Kilmer's debut 'Real Genius'!

Yeah that would be the CrossBow project.
"Stop playing with yourself Kent!"

[Jen @ Oct 16th 2006 4:33PM]

I wonder how long it will take before our government is using this technology on American Citizens. Not long, probably!

[Dan @ Apr 10th 2007 7:25AM]

Or we just use the lasers to blow stuff up next to your ruby vehicle.

[Tim @ Apr 28th 2007 6:24PM]

I can't wait until they get a functional prism tank! (did someone mention red alert?)