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Having recently used a high-energy laser weapon to down an unmanned aircraft at a proving ground in Switzerland, Rheinmetall has demonstrated the operational potential of combining a powerful laser weapon with an advanced air defense system

http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/inde ... 651&lang=3

Some new rumors about the AC-X "son of spectre" laser armed ac-130s are circulating .If anyone comes across something solid,pop it in here.

Well recently they junked the ABL's plane to the plane graveyard, so I assumed the entire program got cancelled, if it is true about a laser armed gunship, then I will be suprised.

Not sure what you mean about the AC-X, the plane does exist,and its funding still exists.I havent heard anything about it being canceled,yet.What i have heard,is too on the fringe to post here....so im curious to hear something substantial.

As for the ABL, the tech just wasnt there yet.They'll come back to it within a few years.

SGTscuba wrote:Well recently they junked the ABL's plane to the plane graveyard, so I assumed the entire program got cancelled, if it is true about a laser armed gunship, then I will be suprised.

You know when you look back at all the promising research projects that got cancelled like this, It was usualy becouse somthing better came along and made it obsolete. So now I wonder what we have now that is so much better that we will not hear about for a few more years.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Groun ... s_999.html

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57555 ... ns-stakes/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22076705
Laser weapon to be deployed on US ships starting next year.

tkobo wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22076705
Laser weapon to be deployed on US ships starting next year.

It's all propaganda. The thing took multiple seconds to shoot down a level, slow flying drone. It's probably useless against the latest Mach 3+ missiles being turned out by Russia.

If you read some better sources (such as defence insider daily), they say that it isnt an anti-missile laser (yet), it is for shooting down survallence drones and perhaps against pirate boats.

Which is exactly what its being deployed for,at first...small attack craft and drones.There IS a version being worked on for missiles,and its had some success,but this aint it.

The one for ships to use against missiles is a newer smaller version of the one that was on the NKC-135A.Its estimated it only costs about $3 to fire,where as anti-missile missiles cost $thousands per missile.

Theres also new vids out for adam.

New information on the the deployment,but none use,of a laser "dazzler" during the falkland war .Shame they didnt use it.