U.S. Navy Deploys Its First Laser Weapon in the Persian Gulf

[DrLeftover]

14 Nov

The U.S. Navy has deployed on a command ship in the Persian Gulf its first laser weapon capable of destroying a target.

The amphibious transport ship USS Ponce has been patrolling with a prototype 30-kilowatt-class Laser Weapon System since late August, according to officials. The laser is mounted facing the bow, and can be fired in several modes -- from a dazzling warning flash to a destructive beam -- and can set a drone or small boat on fire.

The Ponce “provides a unique platform” to deploy the new capability “in an operationally relevant region,” Vice Admiral John Miller, the 5th Fleet commander, said in an e-mailed statement. The ship is the 5th Fleet’s primary command and control afloat staging base for operations

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-14/u-s-navy-deploys-its-first-laser-weapon-in-the-persian-gulf.html

 

[+paradox]

"according to officials"

just remember that the military have/use stuff way before they declassify it or tell the media...

the us military have been messing around with laser weapons for many years now...

 

[Webster]

This should be interesting...

 

[DrLeftover]

Live Test video

The laser weapon system (LaWS) has been brought online by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and demonstrated aboard the USS Ponce in the Arabian Gulf.

http://www.space.com/27976-pew-pew-navy-laser-blasts-targets-in-air-on-sea-raw-video.html