http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/a...ves/101262.asp

I'm trying to envision how such a weapon could be used on the battlefield had it been available, say during Operation Iraqi Freedom a couple of years ago..any ideas? Will it make any current weapons systems obsolete?

this is "possibly" one of them... i might be wrong though... it wasn't my find...

I think that is a B-52 bomber!

Well, such a weapon is already being developed to shoot down missiles durring their "boost" phase as part of the missile defence shield. Supposedly it's going really well and will be operational in the near future.

I guess it only stands to reason they'd try it out against ground targets to see if it helps any although I'm unconvinced anything will come out of that.

Originally Posted by zander_0633

I think that is a B-52 bomber!

No, it is not.

Then Maybe the Russian Antonov ?

Originally Posted by zander_0633

I think that is a B-52 bomber!

B-747

Phoenix80 got it. B means Bomber. I think it is best way to said Boeing 747.

Originally Posted by Whispering Death

Well, such a weapon is already being developed to shoot down missiles durring their "boost" phase as part of the missile defence shield. Supposedly it's going really well and will be operational in the near future.

I guess it only stands to reason they'd try it out against ground targets to see if it helps any although I'm unconvinced anything will come out of that.

That's the AirBorne Laserproject mounted on a modified 747. This is a different system altogether. Both use lasers though.

I was working on a high power producing dye laser system about 1992 which was mounted on a Humvee. We never reached the power levels to overcome atmospheric loss and divergence but it was impressive anyhow. The chemical compounds used in the cavity of lasers today are much easier to use than dyes. Since the materials don't burn up so quickly by the power source, the output is more consistent and the wavelengths are not attenuated by the same physical problems we were dealing with.