[Ghostavo]

A few months ago I posted something regarding a milestone in the development of laser weaponry.

It seems 6 months later we've reached another one.

Boeing seems to have mounted a freaking laser gun on a C-130H aircraft and has been testing it against ground targets.

Without further ado, the report.

<Link to article>
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Sept. 1, 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force on Aug. 30 defeated a ground target from the air with the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) aircraft, demonstrating ATL's first air-to-ground, high-power laser engagement of a tactically representative target.

During the test, the C-130H aircraft took off from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., and fired its high-power chemical laser through its beam control system while flying over White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The beam control system acquired the ground target -- an unoccupied stationary vehicle -- and guided the laser beam to the target, as directed by ATL's battle management system. The laser beam's energy defeated the vehicle.

"This milestone demonstrates that directed energy weapon systems will transform the battlespace and save lives by giving warfighters a speed-of-light, ultra-precision engagement capability that will dramatically reduce collateral damage," said Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "By demonstrating this capability, the ATL team has earned a distinguished place in the history of weapon system development."

The test occurred less than three months after a June 13 test in which ATL successfully fired its laser from the air for the first time, hitting a target board on the ground. The ATL team plans additional tests to further demonstrate the system's military utility. These demonstrations support the development of systems that will conduct missions on the battlefield and in urban operations.

"The bottom line is that ATL works, and works very well," said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems' Directed Energy Systems unit. "ATL's components -- the high-energy chemical laser, beam control system and battle manager -- are performing as one integrated weapon system, delivering effective laser beam energy to ground targets."

Discuss!

[NGTM-1R]

Ah yes, I heard about this.

I'm curious what kind of vehicle they hit; the YAL is capable of taking down fighters because it can vaporize the canopy; it can't actually damage the airframe well. I doubt this has too much more power, and armored vehicles are something of a step up from aircraft.

[BloodEagle]

I'll believe that it's as effective as they say it is when it performs as well in actual combat conditions.

I'm also curious as to how effective that device would be on ground troops. [/freaking evil]

[NGTM-1R]

I'm also curious as to how effective that device would be on ground troops. [/freaking evil]

Your head asplode.

Literally. Starting with your eyes; lots of fluid there. The water in your brain tissues converts to steam and expands as your skull acts like a microwave.

(sleep well, kids!)

[FUBAR-BDHR]

* FUBAR-BDHR goes off to develop the mirrored combat helmet.

Camouflage might be an issue. 

[Locutus of Borg]

This always makes me wonder why -- in universe -- the lasers in Freespace never went the speed of light...

[MR_T3D]

This always makes me wonder why -- in universe -- the lasers in Freespace never went the speed of light...

simlpe. the cloud of ether the game takes place in reduces the speed of concentrated light (lasers).
also esplains the flight mechanics.

[Akalabeth Angel]

This always makes me wonder why -- in universe -- the lasers in Freespace never went the speed of light...

Same reason teh lasers in Star Wars don't go the speed of light

[terran_emperor]

Well, for one thing they're not actual beams of light.

They're magnetically accelarated bolts of ignited plasma and are referred to as Lasers for some inane reason.

The only weapons  in FSverse which could be said to be true lasers are beam weapons (unless i missed or forgot something somewhere) and the defunct Targeting Laser

[StarSlayer]

Nasty things that come from C-130s

• Ground Troops and light Vehicles
• Daisy Cutters
• 20, 40 and 75mm ordinance fire in massive quantities
• Now with Freaking Laser Beams

Nice things that come from C-130s

• bag of rice

Analysis indicates when you see a C-130 run the frak away

[General Battuta]

Nasty things that come from C-130s

• Ground Troops and light Vehicles
• Daisy Cutters
• 20, 40 and 75mm ordinance fire in massive quantities
• Now with Freaking Laser Beams

Nice things that come from C-130s

• bag of rice

Analysis indicates when you see a C-130 run the frak away

Bahahaha.

[StarSlayer]

Actually as a product demonstration they should have the C-130 drop job lots of corn and then have it turn round and zap it into popcorn with its Freaking Laser Beam.

[Bobboau]

Well, for one thing they're not actual beams of light.

They're magnetically accelarated bolts of ignited plasma and are referred to as Lasers for some inane reason.

The only weapons  in FSverse which could be said to be true lasers are beam weapons (unless i missed or forgot something somewhere) and the defunct Targeting Laser

the weapons in FS are called laser cannons because they use lasers to charge the ionized gass they fire. it's how they make the plasma they shoot

[NGTM-1R]

Well, for one thing they're not actual beams of light.

The ML-16, Prometheus, and Mekhu/Subach tech descriptions would beg to differ.

[TopAce]

They are called lasers, because all the other games/movies that featured similar weaponry called them "lasers."

I don't think they bothered too much about actual physics when they named their primary weapons (I'm not talking about the tech descriptions, ok?)

On-topic: I'm happy that development has not stopped despite the crisis. Anything that reduces collateral damage is good.

[headdie]

They are called lasers, because all the other games/movies that featured similar weaponry called them "lasers."

I don't think they bothered too much about actual physics when they named their primary weapons (I'm not talking about the tech descriptions, ok?)

On-topic: I'm happy that development has not stopped despite the crisis. Anything that reduces collateral damage is good.

collateral damage can only be avoided with top rate guidance tech using 100% accurate intel data and operated by some one fully rested and properly trained in how to use the equipment

[terran_emperor]

They are called lasers, because all the other games/movies that featured similar weaponry called them "lasers."

I don't think they bothered too much about actual physics when they named their primary weapons

Well now wonder the GTA/PVN/GTVA always get their arses kicked...They don't know how their weapons actually work...Instead they make up some crap that sounds about right but is not actually true...

on topic...

collateral damage can only be avoided with top rate guidance tech using 100% accurate intel data and operated by some one fully rested and properly trained in how to use the equipment

In other word, with our current level of tech and questionable intel-gathering abilities, it can't be done.

It currently is beyond humanities ablilty to avoid collateral damage...Hell, we're barely able to minimize it at the moment anyway

[Mongoose]

Actually as a product demonstration they should have the C-130 drop job lots of corn and then have it turn round and zap it into popcorn with its Freaking Laser Beam.

This.  For the love of God, this.

[TopAce]

Well now wonder the GTA/PVN/GTVA always get their arses kicked...They don't know how their weapons actually work...Instead they make up some crap that sounds about right but is not actually true...

Of course I meant Volition (out-of-universe), not any in-universe faction.

[Mika]

The only weapons  in FSverse which could be said to be true lasers are beam weapons (unless i missed or forgot something somewhere) and the defunct Targeting Laser

And to imagine how incredible powerful that laser has to be since the amount of light scattered by the dust in space is enough to make the beam appear continuous... And that the beam is not even partially reflected back nor there is any liquid metal splashing out of the hole!

Gimme one of those instead of those pesky 3 mW Helium-Neons that only illuminate the dust particles and leave the rest of the space black. (Actually, class IV lasers are a lot more fun to play with)

Would anyone venture a guess at which mode those big Freespace beams work? TEM00 anyone?