Tech

Lockheed Martin's laser weapon destroyed a truck from a mile away within seconds

IMAGE: LOCKHEED MARTIN

The dark, dystopian future we've been warned about has arrived.

Lockheed Martin announced on Thursday that a prototype for a new laser weapon system had successfully destroyed the engine of a small truck "in a matter of seconds from more than a mile away."

The defense and aeronautics giant named the 30-kilowatt fiber laser weapon system ATHENA, an acronym for Advanced Test High Energy Asset.

The field test demonstrated the laser's military effectiveness against enemy ground vehicles, Lockheed stated, and demonstrated its "rapidly evolving precision capability" envisioned to "protect military forces and critical infrastructure."

In layman's terms: It showed how laser weapons can be used for counterterrorism and to protect the military.

Post by Lockheed Martin.

The prototype uses a technique called spectral beam combining, in which a group of lasers comes together to form a powerful beam that — terrifyingly — provides "greater efficiency and lethality" than other laser weapons currently known to be under development, according to Lockheed Martin.

It's based on a laser weapon system called ADAM (Area Defense Anti-Munitions) that the company demonstrated in May 2014 destroying UAVs, rockets and a small boat.

A similar laser has been tested by the U.S. Navy, which said in December that its Laser Weapon System, or LaWS, was ready to be used in combat.

“Fiber-optic lasers are revolutionizing directed energy systems,” said Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin chief technology officer, in a news release announcing the successful field test.

“We are investing in every component of the system -– from the optics and beam control to the laser itself -– to drive size, weight and power efficiencies. This test represents the next step to providing lightweight and rugged laser weapon systems for military aircraft, helicopters, ships and trucks.”

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manuel manuel1 hour ago

How 'bout cruise missile made of mirror.

Darrel Plant3 hours ago

The truck is stationary. The "rocket" is on a guideline, so it's moving in a straight line instead of a parabola. The boat also appears to be stationary, and you'd think that a couple of well-placed (and far less expensive) large-caliber bullets could pop a Zodiac in less time than it takes for the laser to do some minor amount of damage.