Boeing's airborne laser finally blows something up
By Donald Melanson 
posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:36PM
posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:36PM
It's been a long haul marked by funding cuts and some important but rather unexciting tests, but it looks like Boeing's much-ballyhooed airborne laser has now finally actually blown something up, real good. According to Boeing and the US Air Force, that happened over the White Sands Missile Range on August 30th, when an C-130H aircraft equipped with the Advanced Tactical Laser (or ATL) locked on to an unspecified ground target and fired the 12,000lb high-power chemical laser to make the target disappear from the face of the Earth. That successful test seems unlikely to change the laser's place in the Defense Department's arsenal, however, which has already been scaled back significantly from the earlier, more ambitious plans for a whole fleet of aircraft equipped with the weapon.
[Via Slashdot]
[Via Slashdot]
Pew pew pew
BOOM!!!
Hey...does anything else notice something? That plane is really grey. and it's over water. I think it might be a flying shark. With a frickin' laser beam.
But seriously, what is up with military funding? So we're going to R&D this thing, and only build a couple aircraft. That's brilliant, as I am sure that this, like most military projects, have a large chunk tied up in the R&D, and making additional units is chump change by comparison. They'd almost be better off killing them outright before any more money is wasted.
@kamokazi
Yeah, but just think, GPS started out as a military R&D project as did the intertubes. With any luck in 20 years it will much like GPS is today. They'll be small enough so that you can outfit one on your car, bicycle, pet shark, wii fit balance board, etc.
You mean they didn't make popcorn with it?
Wow, are you serious!?
I know that Engadget tries their best at writing about military and security issues, but it usually comes off as a joke.
In June and again in August I sent proposals to Engadget to create a defense technology columnist position, which would feature in-depth military analysis from a subject matter expert, and allow this site to offer exclusive content (instead of leaching from Wired, or in this case the unnamed source, NetworkWorld).
Suffice to say, I NEVER heard back... not even a thank you for your interest. What a missed opportunity.
My background has focused exclusively on military and security affairs over the last decade. I am currently completing a PhD in military science with a focus on counter-insurgency, and I have conducted extensive research on counter-terrorism at the tactical and policy levels. I also hold a Masters degree in international security and a Bachelors in political science.
If I were writing about the Advanced Tactical Laser I'd want discuss more than 'pew pew pew'. One could describe and explore:
- The developmental history of the Advanced Tactical Laser
- The technical challenges and limitations of a chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL)
- The operational relationship between the Advanced Tactical Laser and the Airborne Laser
- The role of DARPA, the Missile Defense Agency, and combatant commanders in the development of these systems
- The policy concerns of the US, EU, Russia, and China regarding theater anti-missile systems, particularly in regards to the ABM treaty
- The relevance of laser-based anti-missile systems today
- The future of anti-missile systems and it's affect on tactical and strategic decisions
I admit, this is a bit of an impassioned rant, sorry for that. It just pains me to see such poor writing that fails to inform the reader at the expense of fatuous entertainment.
If you’d like to see my proposal as well as sample articles, please visit - http://whatdoesittaketogetajob.com/columnist-proposal-for-engadget/
A picture of the cover to 'Real Genius' also would have worked.
@DefenseTech
The reason that position doesn't exist, is because this is a gadget and technology blog, not an in-depth military technology assesment. Nobody here is really interested in much more than the fact that a plane has a laser on it. Just look at the comments above yours. Get your head out of your ass - "pew pew pew" is just fine for most readers.
@ defence
pew pew pew
The name is Francis Sawyer, every body calls me Physco, Any of you guys call me Francis and I'll kill ya. And I don't like nobody touching my stuff, just keep your meethooks off, if I catch any of you guys in my stuff, I kill ya, Also, I don't like nobody touching me. Now, any of you homos... touch me, and I'll kill ya.
...Lighten up Francis!
and oh, by the way, you got the job.
Oh, by the way, you FIRED!
@Henry
Eloquently put... I apologize for trying to bring readers of this site greater information and perspective based on expertise.
I'll also check on the location of my head as well, though last time I looked it was on straight.
@mynk
touché
DefenseTech
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1373/663392121_3e875d2199.jpg
Sorry, a bit harsh maybe....but seriously, that would ruin Engadget.
@10minutehobo
Interesting response from you and others. I thought I was proposing was something positive and useful... I guess not.
It's always nice to put yourself out there and get kicked in the face - I appreciate it. Have a great day!
- DefenseTech
@kamokazi
weirdly enough, the app "pocket god" on the app store just released an update titled "Episode 25: Sharks with Frickin' Laser Beams Attached To Their Heads." coincidence? i think not.
p.s. i'm not kidding; they actually did release this...look it up.
@DefenseTech -- I can certainly tell that you are very involved in the subject of military science. But you have to realize that not everyone is as passionate as you. Otherwise we would all be getting our Phd in military science. Also, it doesn't relate that well to the other blogs on the engadget network, but there is no reason why you couldn't start your own blog regarding the matter. Its something you're very passionate about, you should give it a shot.
@ddub
You might be right.
- - -
Can I call FAIL on my own proposal? :-)
/end comments for the day
The defense department burns through our tax dollars to create "fleets of planes armed with lasers" but I'm starting to get the feeling that if shit hit the fan and China/Russia launched ICBMS at us right now, we'd be completely caught off guard and not a single one of these jets, laser planes or missile defense shields would ever make it off the ground in time to save the American taxpayers.
Last comment, I promise...
I find it interesting that despite my first comment and others being rated down, and being told to 'shut the fu&k up' and 'pull my head out of my a$$' - which is pretty harsh and cold considering my misdeed, more than 250 people have read the proposal at my job search blog and not a single person has had a negative thing to say about it there.
I still find it hard to believe that I'm being lambasted for wanting to write about military affairs at Engadget in more depth that is currently available. How in the hell would one writer 'ruin' Engadget? Jebus, chill out.
Make up your own mind - http://whatdoesittaketogetajob.com/columnist-proposal-for-engadget/
I'm done.
The same way it would ruin kindergarten if you made the kids do a hundred pushups and 30 laps everyday.
@Defense Tech: for a guy who is obsessed with the military and defense industry, you have a remarkably thin skin. Thankfully, our military doesn't share your penchant for being a whiny bitch.
PEW PEW PEW....
that instantly brought me back to my childhood... Thanks. :)
You probably never heard back from Engadget because if you were one of Engadget's authors, you would seriously destroy their key journalistic calling-card:
The ability to write sarcastic, clue-less comments about things they know nothing about.
Come on, "pew pew pew" is WAY more sarcastic then something like "The technical challenges and limitations of a chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL)". Plus, it is more easily understood by someone with a 1st grade education (I think my 4yo was running around saying "pew pew pew" a few days ago).
I think I jizzed in my pants!
What the hell is wrong with you guys. Did you even read his proposal and PDF samples?
http://whatdoesittaketogetajob.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/sample-article-2.pdf
He's not talking about writing some big fuck-off dissertation, it sounds like the longer articles Nilay writes about legal stuff or Topolsky writes about the state of technology or whatever. And from what I've seen its better written than some of the crap that Engadget spews out.
He probably should have worded his first comment better and not sounded so pissy, but come on give the guy a break.
And to Henry, don't speak for me cock jockey, as least this guy knows more than some of the ass-clowns around here.
pew pew pew!!!!
echo FTL.
Should've gone with "Shoop da whoop"
Looks like Engadget really likes the word "ballyhooed".
Everyone at engadget must have gotten matching 'word of the day' calendars... Ballyhooed... What is this world come to?
My word of the day is "perineum". I've yet to find a good excuse to use it in a sentence. : (
@Joe: Looks like you found it!
""Lasers""
IT'S GOT FRICKIN LAZ0R BEAMZ!!!11!
a giant "laser"
Pics or it didn't happen!
They "blew up" an iPhone, purely coincidental.
Here here! Pics or pull I say.
An iPhone you reckon? That would be very impressive, hitting such a small target.
Maybe we could use it oz to kill cane toads from the air
Airbone, huh?
Glad someone else noticed...
The OSX dictionary is never wrong
apply directly to the head?
was the target a house full of popcorn?
A video of this would be so awesome...
IMMA CHARGIN MAH...
penis
The Pentagon Wars II - Smokescreen in the Sky
They'll be able to shoot down anything fired by Texas after the breaking of the union. Whoopee?
Now all we need is giant sharks...
Laslo: Look at the facts! Very high powered, portable, limited firing power, unlimited range. (Chris stops smiling.) All’s you’d need is a tracking system, and a large spinning mirror and you could vaporize a human target from space.
(Mitch glances at Chris.)
Chris: This is not good.