http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/02/pentagon-report.html
The Defense Science Board, an influential advisory panel, has a new report on directed energy weapons that finally injects some realism into the laser debate. Instead of inflated, sci-fi-esque claims and giant laser projects, the Board wants to see a more measured tone -- and smaller, more practical applications for military energy weapons. "The Department needs a concerted education effort to replace the 'death ray' myth of directed weapons with a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits and limitations of their applications."
This is realism, not pessimism, and the Defense Science Board has it right. They're not saying that a "death ray" is impossible, or that it will never happen, but that wildly unrealistic expectations for death rays may well have actually set back laser work in the Pentagon.
For those who closely follow the Pentagon's myriad laser efforts, much of what the panel says will come as little surprise. Chemical lasers, such as the one on the Airborne Laser, are still the only megawatt class beams around, which could be used to take out ballistic missiles. But there are serious drawbacks to the weapon, and enthusiasm in the Pentagon has declines for it. Solid-state lasers, which are being developed for use on Humvees and ground vehicles, and fiber lasers offer a promising alternative, but at lower power levels. Microwave weapons, in the meantime, have some interesting niche capabilities, such as disabling cars and electronics.
On the wonkier level, the report discusses the need for coordination of the various laser efforts, developing a coherent strategy for where and when lasers will be deployed, and protecting the diminishing U.S. industrial base for lasers.
The Defense Science Board, an influential advisory panel, has a new report on directed energy weapons that finally injects some realism into the laser debate. Instead of inflated, sci-fi-esque claims and giant laser projects, the Board wants to see a more measured tone -- and smaller, more practical applications for military energy weapons. "The Department needs a concerted education effort to replace the 'death ray' myth of directed weapons with a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits and limitations of their applications."
This is realism, not pessimism, and the Defense Science Board has it right. They're not saying that a "death ray" is impossible, or that it will never happen, but that wildly unrealistic expectations for death rays may well have actually set back laser work in the Pentagon.
For those who closely follow the Pentagon's myriad laser efforts, much of what the panel says will come as little surprise. Chemical lasers, such as the one on the Airborne Laser, are still the only megawatt class beams around, which could be used to take out ballistic missiles. But there are serious drawbacks to the weapon, and enthusiasm in the Pentagon has declines for it. Solid-state lasers, which are being developed for use on Humvees and ground vehicles, and fiber lasers offer a promising alternative, but at lower power levels. Microwave weapons, in the meantime, have some interesting niche capabilities, such as disabling cars and electronics.
On the wonkier level, the report discusses the need for coordination of the various laser efforts, developing a coherent strategy for where and when lasers will be deployed, and protecting the diminishing U.S. industrial base for lasers.
