http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/ Engadget Comments for Boeing's laser-equipped 747-400F ready for testing http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/then people kill each other buy the technology they have invented themself.
why they just dont put the budget to poor people dying from hunger ?
what are these goverment doing to the people ??!?!?!
no affence, but that's just my idea]]>Aug 14th 2008 11:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Aug 15th 2008 3:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 12:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 9:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
Anyways... sounds strange. I wonder if I can get a laser on my car.]]>Oct 30th 2006 12:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 1:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 12:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 12:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 31st 2006 1:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 5th 2009 6:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
Right....

The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers ...]]>Oct 30th 2006 12:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/"

I don't think the Rebel Alliance had an expensive bigass laser weapon...

I think he meant to say he just gave America their very own Death Star, and turned us into the Evil Galactic Empire, not the scrappy Rebel Alliance.

And if movies have taught me anything, tiny snub fighters can take out that Death Star without much effort.

d'oh... Star Wars analogies works against this guy.]]>Oct 30th 2006 12:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 31st 2006 11:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 1:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
Oh wait, they're the same overlords. Now they just have lasers too. Damn!]]>Oct 30th 2006 1:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
All that money and it's negated by common sense!]]>Oct 30th 2006 1:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
the point is to destroy missiles aimed at US soil, not at the plane.]]>Oct 30th 2006 2:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
Shoot it from the back? Do you understand anything? This is to stop a missile. This isn't a fighter plane. It won't even be in the same airspace. So, "shoot it from the back" is stupid. You would think that them mentioning stopping the missle from hundreds of miles away would be the first clue.

What I DO wonder, is why they don't have a ground based version of this, in addition to the mobile ones (or has that been done already?). Surely you could pack more punch into a laser with a limitless power supply.

To address the reflective issue, I'm going to take a guess and assume that whatever material would be that reflective, wouldn't be able to take atmospheric heat in the first place, and would not be sturdy enough to ensure a safe...explosion..(wow, talk about contradictions)

Whatever, on paper it sounds pretty interesting.]]>Oct 30th 2006 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
Another stupid, easily defeated, taxpayer rip-off.]]>Oct 30th 2006 5:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
-cause theirs is bigger!]]>Oct 30th 2006 1:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
Next we'll hear the Axis of Eeeviil bust out some giant, extra shiny mirror as a counter-measure the Galactic Empire's newly deployed, Laser touting, Frequent Flyer Program favorite, express plane.

So, do the guys with the Big Black round helmets and black uniforms with croocked eyes sit back in Economy manning the laser controls while the head-honchos seat up-top in First shooting the breeze in new, fully reclinable, luxury leather seats?]]>Oct 30th 2006 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
Although, the laser comes from out of space, and destroys the plan in it's path...

Still, you kinda could do the same with this laser then?
Still don't get it, just shoot the friggin' 747's from the back, no? Major weak spot, massive damage!]]>Oct 30th 2006 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/

A-duh...]]>Oct 30th 2006 5:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 1:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
-jcr
]]>Oct 30th 2006 6:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
I'm guessing it's a Chemical laser (for now), and would need to be refueled at some point, so just launch a bunch of duds and make the thing run out of fuel firing for nothing.

Or just make your missiles as shiny as Padme's ship and reflect the beam.

For something really unconventional, try talking to your enemy so that no sticks and stones have to be thrown in the first place.]]>Oct 30th 2006 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 8:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
The laser-equipped 747's are launched from Air Force bases in response to an incoming ICBM warnings. You can predict an ICBM's destination based on its trajectory, so they activate the fleet of 747's closest to the target. The aircraft is launched and the laser follows its target, heating the warhead body as it re-enters the atmosphere which causes it to prematurely explode. BTW save your, "but the radiation from the warhead" comments cause the stuff that scatters from the warhead before it goes off does alot less damage than a cobalt-laced H-bomb blowing up over .

This is a great project and I for one welcome our...he he, just kidding.]]>Oct 30th 2006 1:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Aug 14th 2008 12:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/That's just plain un-American!

Can't we just kill our enemies the old fashioned way?

By opening up fast food franchises?
]]>Oct 30th 2006 1:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
Oh and did anyone notice the laser turret's range of motion is from the horizon on down to he ground? If accurate, this tells me the laser is meant to shoot missles down on their ascent, not their decent, making this an early-defense measure versus ground systems that must wait for a missle to descend... just a thought.]]>Oct 30th 2006 4:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
They had to install an industrial A/C unit similar to the size of one to cool a Wal Mart in place simply to maintain temperature inside.

One thing that does absolutely baffle me though is why they have a public website for this with a "Airborne Laser overview"....
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/abl/index.html]]>Oct 30th 2006 2:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
You might wanna wear a cut-out mirror-ball on your head during those presentations. You know--just in case...]]>Mar 22nd 2010 10:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 2:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
2: it's a chemical laser and has limited use before resupplying.

3: there is indeed a ground-based initiative comparible to this... go read about "Nautlius".

4: there's an episode of "Future Weapons" which details this project and even shows the inside of this 747, as well as animations of it in use.]]>Oct 30th 2006 2:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
or maybe a large "wind generator" to deflect the projectile back to the sender lol

]]>Oct 30th 2006 3:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
guess it's a nice tech after all. Ground mounted above all.]]>Oct 30th 2006 3:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
Oh, those were the days...]]>Oct 30th 2006 4:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
1) The laser destroys ICBMs during their boost phase. At this time, they're travelling relatively slowly. Conventional missles won't work, because they're too slow to intercept. (Note that during reentry, the warheads are travelling about 4 km/s -- about 9000 mph -- so intercept is much more difficult.)

2) Chrome plating your ICBM is not feasible. An ICBM is essentially a low-orbit spacecraft and doesn't have the extra weight capacity to drag a bunch of chrome along. Even if they had the extra payload capacity, you couldn't plate your engine nozzles, so they'd still be susceptible to the laser.]]>Oct 30th 2006 6:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
the same way it would destroy everything else. The effect of mirrors on high powered lasers has been highly exaggerated.
]]>Oct 30th 2006 8:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 7:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 30th 2006 9:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
That's because it doesn't really take much thought. We already protect big bombers from those same supersonic jets with.... gasp, our own supersonic jets.

Maybe that's just crazy-talk though.]]>Aug 14th 2008 10:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/]]>Oct 30th 2006 11:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/Oct 31st 2006 4:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
ha ha

]]>Mar 22nd 2010 10:28PM