Northrop Grumman's weaponized laser on sale now, definitely won't hug you

The last time we heard anything about Northrop Grumman's development of a weaponized laser system, they were telling us that the "hardest part was over," and it looks like they weren't exaggerating. According to today's PR released by the 4th largest defense contractor in the world, the units, dubbed FIRESTRIKE, are now "ready for sale." In case you haven't been following every detail of the story, the FIRESTRIKE is a solid-state laser (think raygun), which weighs 400 pounds, has an Ethernet interface, and can be chained together with up to 7 other identical modules to create a 100 kw beam. The unit's obviously not very portable, and we don't have any information on its price, but we're going to go ahead and assume we can't afford it. Enemies of Engadget: you're safe, at least for now.

[Bergamot @ Nov 14th 2008 2:51PM]

I can't decide whether to make a Star Wars joke or a Real Genius joke.

[Maxx @ Nov 14th 2008 3:08PM]

I will choose for you. ;)

Call me when I can fill up some hosers house with popcorn !

[--------- @ Nov 14th 2008 3:08PM]

I was just thinking we're going to need a pretty damn big shark!

[Chris Anderson @ Nov 14th 2008 3:48PM]

Neither, make a MechWarrior reference!!

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 14th 2008 4:05PM]

Real Genius for sure. This even looks a little bit like the final (not made up of crap strewn all over the table) version of the laser in that movie.

[Flashpoint @ Nov 14th 2008 4:07PM]

400 pounds isn't bad at all. A Fighter like the F16 could carry two of these and never need a vulcan cannon again.

In fact, considering a laser should have a maximum range farther than a gun, should they not have also designed a more sophisticated targeting system?

[rich_ee @ Nov 23rd 2008 3:01PM]

I agree with flashpoint...NG should contract val kilmer to make a big spinning mirror

[Artie Lange @ Nov 14th 2008 8:33PM]

Real Genius > Star Wars. That's right, I said it.

[Jon Doe. @ Nov 15th 2008 1:02AM]

Just make a will it play doom joke and call it a day. ;)

[macserv @ Nov 16th 2008 4:28AM]

15kW is not nearly sufficient. Hathaway needs 5 megawatts by mid-May.

[mushadow @ Nov 14th 2008 2:55PM]

Not water proof yet! Damn, guess that rules out sharks with frickin' laser beams, for now....

[tom @ Nov 14th 2008 3:18PM]

Iraq and Afghanistan doesn't have a lot of open water anyway or rain much anyway and I doubt the terrorists' or anyone's water pistol can shoot as far as this laser does.

400 pound isn't heavy. It is great to mount on the hummie.

Bush's Christmas shopping list? (It is his last christmas as a president)

[AnyKey @ Nov 14th 2008 4:17PM]

*whoosh*

[linuxamp @ Nov 16th 2008 11:06PM]

I hear they're working on the waterproof casing and shark mounting strap.

[kal326 @ Nov 14th 2008 2:57PM]

I'll take 7 of these and one or two of those stand alone nuke powerplants..... :-)

[the tif @ Nov 14th 2008 2:58PM]

"Blind interface mating panel" ... for lonely scientists who can't get out of the lab to meet another human?

Top Ten Things to Say to Your Death Laser Lover:

10: "Oh baby, that laser is so hot"
9: "I love it when you blow holes through walls"
8: "Fry me baby, fry me"

Come one people - its a Friday I'm sure you can be creative!

[StalematE @ Nov 14th 2008 3:42PM]

"Make my cat go crazy"

[Zapp @ Nov 14th 2008 5:34PM]

I thought the "blind interface mating panel" was to make sure it is handicapped-accessible. It would be very useful right after it makes the user handicapped.

[BoozeRob @ Nov 14th 2008 2:58PM]

Pew pew pew!

[Adrian @ Nov 14th 2008 4:30PM]

It's quite rare that a comment would make me giggle.

Bravo sir.

[kraptastic @ Nov 14th 2008 5:11PM]

seconded...

[ricefarmer @ Nov 14th 2008 2:59PM]

Now to put one of those on a shark...

[teecas @ Nov 14th 2008 3:00PM]

They should call it "The Alan Parsons Project", not Firestrike!

[Starnerf @ Nov 14th 2008 3:08PM]

I believe that was some sort of hovercraft.

[videonevin @ Nov 14th 2008 3:00PM]

but does it go pew pew?

[John Z @ Nov 14th 2008 3:02PM]

WARNING: Do not look directly at laser with remaining eye.

[StalematE @ Nov 14th 2008 3:05PM]

PEW PEW PEW

[the tif @ Nov 14th 2008 3:12PM]

You were beaten to the pew there.

[StalematE @ Nov 14th 2008 4:29PM]

I know, I fail... I saw the word laser and got excited. Didn't see the previous pews.

[Matthew C @ Nov 15th 2008 2:51PM]

I'm still laughing at the first pews - yours just made me crack up more

[Woody @ Nov 14th 2008 3:08PM]

Woot! I'm ordering a laser tank as soon as I win the lottery!

[sip @ Nov 14th 2008 3:09PM]

Not very portable? Not if you put it in a bed of a pick up, on a swivel and tilt thing so you can aim it. Now that would be fun.

[dnogues @ Nov 14th 2008 4:37PM]

"When we redesigned the All New Ford F150, we wanted to give it a bunch of new features. You're gonna love Sync, the utility ladder built into the tailgate, but most of all, you're gonna enjoy the big freakin laser we threw on the back."

Who needs to do ridiculous things like drive over rocks, or pull out tree stumps? Not I. I'll just blow up rocks, and incinerate trees. Forsure.

[NERV @ Nov 14th 2008 3:11PM]

insert/ wilhelm scream

[foxdude0486 @ Nov 14th 2008 3:14PM]

They may want to get the weight down before they throw that on Number 5's shoulder.

[kal326 @ Nov 14th 2008 4:31PM]

Yes but something tells me this will do a bit more then cut a Pontiac Trans AM drive shaft to pieces and blast the clothes off of a redneck. This thing could probably blast a whole clean through a Pontiac Trans AM!

[Andrew L @ Nov 14th 2008 3:14PM]

Is that continuous (CW) or pulsed power I wonder? I want it to be CW, so that I can finish my Death Star.

[KarlW @ Nov 14th 2008 7:22PM]

It'll be pulsed. Continuous power would get way too hot.

If you were actually using it in space, it'd be worse because you wouldn't have the air to take the heat away.

[gameplace123 @ Nov 15th 2008 4:54PM]

I actually read the press release and it will be continuous - as long as there is power and coolant being supplied to it.

[BigD145 @ Nov 14th 2008 3:34PM]

I want this in my car for my next trip on a California freeway.

[Casper42 @ Nov 15th 2008 3:56AM]

I'm all over this. Guy cuts you off in traffic, just vaporize his tires!

[a ham sandwich @ Nov 14th 2008 3:42PM]

what kind of damage can one of these things actually inflict? habout 7 of them? anybody?

[Ian @ Nov 14th 2008 3:58PM]

hmm i dono how bout you stick your hand in front of it and tell us how it feels!

[Xenoterranos @ Nov 14th 2008 3:58PM]

I kind of want to know what kind of "cooling/thermal interface" this thing requires. I wouldn't be surprised if the cooler weighed another 400 lbs.

Also, "ZOMG LASERSHARK PEW PEW PEW" ftw.

[Brian @ Nov 14th 2008 4:00PM]

I know northrop grumman's VP. He's a cool guy, I'm friends with his son.

[DBrim @ Nov 14th 2008 4:14PM]

Northrop has MANY VPs.

I worked on this project a couple of years ago. I was a summer intern there. It's cool to see this thing finally ready, as it's been a very long road for them.

[wiseguy @ Nov 14th 2008 4:25PM]

sure you did.

[John @ Nov 14th 2008 6:34PM]

do you have any idea how big Grumman is and how many VPs Grumman has? At an interview with them, they went over their organizational structure and their entire business unit with multiple billions in revenue was like 3 layers down.

[GaryZ @ Nov 14th 2008 4:06PM]

Just in time for thanksgiving. Baking turkeys en'mass....

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Nov 14th 2008 4:06PM]

Call me when you can mount it on Rovio.