Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Air defense for $13 a shot? How lasers could revolutionize the way
militaries counter enemy missiles and drones
A directed-energy weapon (DEW) is a ranged weapon that damages its
target with highly focused energy like lasers and microwaves without a solid
projectile, such as bullets, cannonballs, and missiles. For example, laser guns
and beams are often seen in science fiction films like Star Trek or Star Wars. Since
a laser beam travels at the speed of light, it hits the target immediately
without giving the target the time to maneuver. Once developed, laser beam weapons
cost much less than conventional kinetic weapons like missiles or bullets.
Also, laser weapons don’t require an ammunition supply as long as enough energy
is provided to power them. For example, the recently tested UK’s laser weapon,
DragonFire, costs only $13 a shot, much cheaper than million-dollar missile
interceptors currently used. As unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, and missiles play
pivotal roles in battle space, more precise and cost-effective defense systems
are highly demanded. However, laser beam weapons have been tested by major
military powers including the US, the UK, Russia, and China, for years, it’ll take
at least some years before they are actually deployed.
Read the article and learn about the laser-directed energy weapon.
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