How cool and awesome is this?:
A powerful laser weapon, mounted to a ship and controlled like a video game, successfully blasted targets out of the air and the water, the U.S. Navy announced today. The Navy’s Laser Weapon System (LaWS) was tested for several weeks aboard the USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf area. Video released by the Navy shows the prototype weapon, mounted above the ship’s bridge, targeting and zapping everything from explosives to a flying drone. ……
The LaWS is operated by a video game-like controller, and the user can utilize escalating levels of force, ranging from non-lethal measures such as optical “dazzling” and disabling, to lethal destruction if necessary. Small attack boats and drones are the system’s most likely targets. ……
“At less than a dollar per shot, there’s no question about the value LaWS provides,” said Rear Adm. Matthew L. Klunder, chief of naval research. “With affordability a serious concern for our defense budgets, this will more effectively manage resources to ensure our sailors and Marines are never in a fair fight.” [emphasis added]
Missiles and other projectiles need to be constantly restocked; directed energy weapons do not. The possibilities for air and anti-ICBM defense applications kinda speak for themselves, don't they?
True, we aren't yet to Type XII phaser arrays or nadion pulse cannons or transphasic torpedoes, but this will do nicely for now.
Exit question: How in the world did Barack Obama not cancel this weapon years ago? With this higher profile, we can probably count on him deep-sixing it in short order.
After all, you know how the Left feels about "fair fights".
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