Laser Weapons Are Here, According To Lockheed

Having recently purchased Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I really have lasers in the brain. I’m not the only one with those thoughts, because apparently Lockheed Martin not only have them, they say those laser weapons are ready to use.

If you have paid attention to the latest news in tech with weapons, you’ve probably noticed a lot of talk of energy based weapons that use lasers. Using these types of weapons would cost a minuscule amount compared to heavy ordnance weapons like missiles, but the use of these weapons have all but been just a but out of reach. That’s where Lockheed Martin comes in.



“The technologies now exist,” said Paul Shattuck, company director for Directed Energy Systems. “They can be packaged into a size, weight, power and thermal which can be fit onto relevant tactical platforms, whether it’s a ship, whether it’s a ground vehicle or whether it’s an airborne platform.”

It seems that it’s no longer a major technological problem that stops the weapons from working, but it’s more of integrating the weapons.

Don’t get your hopes up for those giant laser beams that obliterate cities like NYC just yet (or ever, come on). The typical laser weapon that is available at the moment is limited to the scale of 15-30 KW. That doesn’t sound like much, but what if I told you that the laser could penetrate a two-inch piece of steel in mere seconds? That type of power could stop a truck trying to breach a checkpoint by aiming the laser at the engine. What about equipping these lasers on drones and having them fly over a convoy of ISIS SUV’s? ZAP ZAP ZAP! That laser could potentially wipe out the means of transportation for hundreds of terrorists.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see how this all pans out, but let’s try to minimize this into a form of a gun. I can only run around my backyard with a toy yelling, “Pew pew!” for so long.

Until then, watch Lockheed’s laser blow up missiles and put holes into cars from over a mile away.

(Via Defense News)

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Jeff Sorensen is an author, writer and occasional comedian living in Detroit, Michigan. You can look for more of his work on The Huffington Post,UPROXX,BGR and by just looking up his name.

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