The US army has successfully hit an unmanned target using a high-powered laser mounted on a Apache AH-64 helicopter.

The demonstration was the first time a fully integrated laser system has successfully fired on a target from a rotary-wing aircraft, according to defence company Raytheon who manufactured the device.

The weapon is almost silent and invisible which makes it particularly hard for enemies to detect and could be used on the battlefield in the near future.

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The demonstration (pictured) was the first time a laser was 'fired on a target from a rotary-wing aircraft over a wide variety of flight regimes, altitudes and air speeds,' the company said

LASER WEAPONS Laser systems have been on the Apache since 1984 when it first entered service. However, they were low-powered and could only guide air-to-ground missiles. The test was the 'first time that a fully integrated laser system successfully engaged and fired on a target from a rotary-wing aircraft over a wide variety of flight regimes, altitudes and air speeds,' defence company Raytheon said. The weapon is almost silent and invisible which makes it particularly hard for enemies to detect and will be on the battlefield 'sooner rather than later'. The US military is increasingly looking into laser weapons and there has been a 30-kilowatt laser on the USS Ponce - an amphibious transport dock ship - since 2014. Advertisement

The laser, which was tested at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico successfully hit a target 0.9 miles (1.4 km) away.

The demonstration was the first time a laser was 'fired on a target from a rotary-wing aircraft over a wide variety of flight regimes, altitudes and air speeds,' the company said.

The laser was manufactured by Raytheon who said their device 'provides long-range surveillance, target acquisition, tracking, range finding and laser designation'.

Laser systems have been on the Apache since 1984 when it first entered service.

However, they were low-powered and could only guide air-to-ground missiles.

These lasers are particularly accurate because unlike bullets and artillery which fire in an arch, they fire in straight lines and are powerful enough to destroy targets.

The company used an electro-optical intrared sensor - which is a version of the Multi-Spectral Targeting System.

Demonstration is the first time a fully integrated laser system has successfully fired on a target from a rotary-wing aircraft (artist's impression), according to defence company Raytheon

These lasers (pictured) are particularly accurate because unlike bullets and artillery which fire in an arch, they fire in straight lines and are powerful enough to destroy targets

'By combining combat proven sensors, like the MTS [Multi-Spectral Targeting System], with multiple laser technologies, we can bring this capability to the battlefield sooner rather than later', said Art Morrish, vice president of Advanced Concept and Technologies for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems.

According to Matthew Ketner, branch chief of the High Energy Laser Controls and Integration Directorate, the power of the laser beam can be adjusted for any material - there is even a non-lethal adjustment for human targets.

Mr Katner said lasers have taken out cruise missiles, mortars and other projectiles during testing.

The weapon (pictured) is almost silent and invisible which makes it particularly hard for enemies to detect and could be used on the battlefield in the near future

Laser systems have been on the Apache (pictured) since 1984 when it first entered service. However, they were low-powered and could only guide air-to-ground missiles

'Unlike a traditional gun lasers don't run out of bullets', he said.

However, they do use a lot of energy and are unable to penetrate haze, smoke and materials with anti-laser coatings.

The US military is increasingly looking into laser weapons and there has been a 30-kilowatt laser on the USS Ponce - an amphibious transport dock ship - since 2014.

Pictured are the effects of the laser on various materials, displayed during Lab Day at the Pentagon. Lasers have taken out cruise missiles, mortars and other projectiles during testing

The US military is increasingly looking into laser weapons and there has been a 30-kilowatt laser on the USS Ponce (pictured) - an amphibious transport dock ship - since 2014

It has been tested extensively and is authorised for defensive use, Mr Katner said.

At the end of May, Department of Defence bosses revealed a new $3.2m (£2.5m) project with Clemson University engineers to investigate the science behind laser weapons.

The military has already deployed some lasers as defensive weapons to shoot down incoming missiles and drones, but the two projects will address underlying issues with making them more widespread.

Laser blasters were also used throughout the films, seen here in 'Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope' (1977) with actors, from left, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford as Han Solo. THe US military is increasingly looking into laser weapons

The laser, which was tested at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico successfully hit a target 0.9 miles (1.4 km) away

Earlier this year a silent killer that could spell the end for enemy drones was tested by US Army infantry troops for the first time.

During a ten day firing exercise, 50 drones were brought down by the laser weapon, an improved version of a system that was tested last year.

And it is hoped that Stryker infantry-transport vehicles mounted with the laser could soon be deployed to the front lines.

The Mobile High Energy Laser (MEHEL) is just one system the US Army is exploring to deal with the growth of inexpensive off-the-shelf unmanned aerial systems that are being used in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.