June 2, 2006 :: News
New laser technologies are being contemplated by the U.S. Air Force, writes Hampton Stephens in
Air Force Magazine. These weapons would be able to instantly reach targets 30 to 40 km away, compared to missiles that would take more than 30 seconds to reach targets at the same distance. They would be much more accurate than even the most precise laser guided bombs, as a laser’s circular error probable—the radius of a circle within which 50 percent of all of the target shots would fall—is less than three centimeters. In addition, lasers are not explosive and would allow for more precise targeting. Stephens notes that the Air Force recently completed a directed energy master plan that examines how lasers and other directed energy technologies could be integrated into its existing platforms. Among the possibilities are F-35 Joint Strike Fighters capable of carrying 100-kilowatt solid-state lasers; laser-equipped AC-130 gunships outfitted with tactical lasers for use against ground targets; and relay mirrors mounted on airships or other near-space platforms that would extend the ranges of laser beams, preserve laser beam quality, and allow laser-equipped aircraft to stand off farther from potential targets.
(Article)
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