Got any practical suggestions for use of high power lasers?

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 12:35:31 -0400

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/tech/2015/07/06/rabdo-redstone-arsenal-air-force/29771333/

According to this article we will finally have deployment of ground vehicles with lasers for zapping IEDs as early as 2017.

We've all heard rumors and plans of "cool things" involving laser technology being developed since the before the turn of the millennia but what ideas do you have that could be implemented rapidly to actually benefit the work being done where you are?

I'm mostly thinking military wise but civilian sector is good too. It just seems like we've spent decades working on the technology and have made very little progress in making laser technology a part of everyday life beyond lasers used in the manufacture of various goods.

I personally think lasers could make a very impressive visual deterrent at installation gates, and melt things if someone decides that running the gate is "a good idea." What do you think a good use would be?

Army, Air Force helps build laser-wielding MRAP to clear bombs

Modified Cougar tested at Redstone Arsenal could be ready for Air Force by fiscal 2017, may have future uses elsewhere.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 12:41 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 12:41:23 -0400

I think we're just starting to scratch the surface for their practical use. The majority of development on things like this usually comes from the military side of R&D. Just like you, I'm interested to see where this will go? Are we looking at GI Joe-style rifles (of course, we'd be able to actually hit people with them...lol)?

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 7 at 2015 12:53 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 12:53:06 -0400

Heating Ramen Noodles?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 12:58 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 12:58:36 -0400

That's a cougar I thought these were Cougars?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 1:04 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 13:04:35 -0400

Yes this system has demonstrated its effectiveness against seaborne and airborne threats.

http://www.janes.com/article/46126/laser-weapon-breaks-cover-on-uss-ponce

Laser weapon breaks cover on USS Ponce - IHS Jane's 360

Key Points The LaWS prototype is being deployed on USS Ponce to demonstrate a SSL-QRC The results of the demonstration will inform a follow-on SSL-TM programme The US Navy (USN) has released the first high-quality images showing a Laser Weapon System (LaWS) demonstrator installed on board the

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 7 at 2015 1:24 PM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 13:24:57 -0400

The Navy has already successfully tested a laser cannon!

Response by Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA made Jul 7 at 2015 2:06 PM

Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 14:06:46 -0400

At one time the AF was working on a transport-jet mounted laser to shoot airplanes and missiles out of the sky. I think the power requirement put that on hold so maybe we have the technology today. I'm addressing the military version - who knows what FedEx would do with that.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 7 at 2015 3:37 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 15:37:46 -0400

Maybe safety goggles?

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Jul 7 at 2015 5:00 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 17:00:43 -0400

I like using lasers to entertain the cat....cat goes WILD chasing the little red dot. I have 2 of them.... one is a pen laser and I can use that indiscriminately (keeping eye safety in mind)....the other one is my Crimson Trace on my J-Frame .38..... I have to keep eye safety in mind AND trigger safety!! Daughter would ticked if I accidently forgot the trigger safety and blew a hole in her cat! (wife would be equally unhappy with a hole in the floor....).

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Jul 7 at 2015 7:14 PM

Maj Mike Sciales — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 19:14:04 -0400

Lasers were used as warning devices in Iraq. There was some problem with the color selection being misinterpreted, but the concept is solid. However, to operate one with enough power to "melt" something currently requires a massive amount of energy and the costs are prohibitive given the current technology, so laser weapons are still a bit ticket item being saved for a time-missile efforts. Sorry, but individual weapons are still decades off.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jul 7 at 2015 8:14 PM

TSgt David L. — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 20:14:31 -0400

IEDs/UXOs are the best use of lasers on the battlefield. I'm sure there are other uses but none as noble. I'm curious to see what others think good ideas might be.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 10:36 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 22:36:22 -0400

More high tech toys to malfunction in the field. Not impressed.

Response by Lt Col Stephen Petzold made Jul 8 at 2015 3:52 PM

Lt Col Stephen Petzold — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 15:52:07 -0400

Powerful lasers have practical applications for missile defense and CRAM. The Airborne Laser aircraft (YAL-1) proved that it was possible for a laser system to destroy a ballistic missile in flight. The Airborne Laser however was not ready to be turned into an operational system. The COIL laser was a big system full of hazardous materials that required PHD's to operate it. There is a lot of follow-on work now with solid state lasers. Like many things, you could see more happening with lasers sooner if more money was available and much of the work is going on behind closed doors.

Here is a link to the video of the YAL-1 shootdown of the ballistic missile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVfyZacLJQU

Airborne Laser shoots down ballistic missile target

The Missile Defense Agency released video showing the Airborne Laser shooting down a ballistic missile target in-flight for the first time at 2044 PST on 10 ...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2015 2:19 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 02:19:35 -0400

Laser weapons have been around long enough to be banned because they caused permanent blindness. They have been used in targeting pods on the F-16 for a least a decade or two. any time you put a disk in a cd/dvd player you are using a laser. distance finders, laser levels and even the automated self driving cars that some states have already approved for open testing on roadways. What are you thinking we need to put them in?

Response by Lt Col Stephen Petzold made Aug 20 at 2015 9:28 AM

Lt Col Stephen Petzold — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 09:28:41 -0400

Here is a good article on the work MDA is doing with lasers...

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-airborne-laser-may-rise-again-but-it-will-look-very [login to see]

The Airborne Laser May Rise Again But It Will Look Very Different

The Airborne Laser program can be tracked back to the Reagan years, and after billions in development dollars were spent and a custom-built 747 prototype was built, what was to be a super-weapon that could shoot down ballistic missiles over their countries of origination turned out to be a super-flop.

Response by Lt Col Stephen Petzold made Sep 23 at 2015 11:36 PM

Lt Col Stephen Petzold — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 23:36:38 -0400

http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2015/09/drones-armed-high-energy-lasers-may-arrive-2017/121583/?oref=d-river

Drones Armed With High-Energy Lasers May Arrive In 2017

Predator maker looks beyond Hellfire missiles to the weapons of the future.