Ace of Spades HQ

July 20, 2010

Frickin Laser Beams
— Dave in Texas

Star Wars-style laser beams have been used for the first time to shoot down aircraft in flight, it was revealed last night.
The anti-aircraft laser shot down four unmanned drones at a US Navy test range off the coast of California.
Mounted on a warship, the space age weapon was fired over two miles to hit one drone travelling above the Pacific Ocean at more than 300mph.
The invisible beam can only be seen when it strikes its target.

It can't be seen. It's a ninja laser beam, mounted on an awesomeship.

You can't fight something like that. All you can do is hope you're not pissin it off.

I shall call it, the Phalanx of Love

[tip via gabrielmalor]

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 05:35 PM | Comments (90)
Post contains 130 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Hey lefties..... care to rethink that "Star Wars" missile defense epithet you crafted towards President Regan's policies 20 years ago????

Posted by: fixerupper at July 20, 2010 05:37 PM (ffV1/)

2 Give it up. Lefties just move on to their next stupidity....remember the serenity prayer--it's really a prayer with leftiest as its object.

Posted by: ParisParamus at July 20, 2010 05:39 PM (Ncc42)

3 So... Bet's Obama cancels this?

Posted by: CoolCzech at July 20, 2010 05:39 PM (tJjm/)

4 Dead! Dead! Dead!!!

Posted by: Rahm Emanuel (while plunging knife into table)......(and naked) at July 20, 2010 05:40 PM (AWL3e)

Cool.

Phasers. They should just go ahead and call them phasers.

Posted by: rdbrewer at July 20, 2010 05:40 PM (/PBKx)

6 greatness!! Regan would be so happy.

Posted by: trailortrash at July 20, 2010 05:40 PM (zB1JW)

7 Reagan*

Posted by: trailortrash at July 20, 2010 05:42 PM (zB1JW)

8 No doubt this advanced technology was developed in one or more of the 57 states for NASA

Posted by: rthor at July 20, 2010 05:43 PM (GkYyh)

9 Barry, "Well at least we were right about Reaganomics... eh... ah... Teleprompter!!!!!"

Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at July 20, 2010 05:44 PM (r1h5M)

10 Meh. Call me when you can fill a house full of popcorn with it.

Posted by: Jerry Hathaway at July 20, 2010 05:44 PM (V6jmN)

11 This is obviously a provokative technology that must be canceled. If we cancel it, there will be peace!!!!!

Posted by: ParisParamus at July 20, 2010 05:44 PM (Ncc42)

12 Now if I can just get one mounted on the hood of my car!

Posted by: GarandFan at July 20, 2010 05:48 PM (XaWFq)

13 3 So...

Bet's Obama cancels this?

Posted by: CoolCzech at July 20, 2010 09:39 PM (tJjm/)

Racist!

Posted by: Billy Joe Jim Bob Shabazz in San Diego at July 20, 2010 05:48 PM (oIp16)

Ahhhh. Reminds me of the good ole' days. America's star was rising after peanut induced malaise. Memories still fresh of Americans walking on the moon - 41 years ago today.

Out of the light, into the darkness.

(Thanks to Instapundit for the reminder)

Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at July 20, 2010 05:50 PM (r1h5M)

15 Here's a movie of it.

Posted by: LC LaWedgie at July 20, 2010 05:50 PM (kb0wl)

16 1 Hey lefties..... care to rethink that "Star Wars" missile defense epithet you crafted towards President Regan's policies 20 years ago???? That'll be the day. Kinda like asking the NYT to re-think Reaganomics and admit "Trickle-Down" works. And more, it matters. Oh, wait: http://tinyurl.com/2d9k3jg Â“The economic recovery has been helped in large part by the spending of the most affluent. Now, even the rich appear to be tightening their belts. Late last year, the highest-income households started spending more confidently, while other consumers held back. But their confidence has since ebbed, according to retail sales reports and some economic analysis.Â”

Posted by: BuddyPC at July 20, 2010 05:50 PM (nSkOL)

17 The money wasted on defending warships from missile attack should be spent on the poor. Because warships don't vote.

Posted by: Progressive Person at July 20, 2010 05:50 PM (/BDGc)

18 It can't be seen. It's a ninja laser beam, mounted on an awesomeship.

Its IR right? Sure it can be seen with the right equipment. Won't do you too much good though as you'll be getting cooked as soon as you "see" it.

Posted by: 18-1 at July 20, 2010 05:51 PM (bgcml)

19 Link: http://tinyurl.com/2d9k3jg

Posted by: BuddyPC at July 20, 2010 05:51 PM (nSkOL)

20 @17: Fuck the Poor!

Posted by: The Roman Senate at July 20, 2010 05:55 PM (tJjm/)

21 Note the paragraph at the end of the article: it won't be deployed until 2016. Translation: "We'll just keep this one on the shelf until there's an administration that actually gives a fuck about defense."

Posted by: Trimegistus at July 20, 2010 05:55 PM (/BDGc)

22 Laser beams?

This is what you want. Will blind your victim and burn their skin. A real weapon!

Not restricted! Hey, Leroy, look into my flashlight!

http://tinyurl.com/2v32m26

Posted by: Kemp at July 20, 2010 05:56 PM (2+9Yx)

23 This technology would make a fine gift to pay back all those contributions to math, science, etc....

Posted by: NASA at July 20, 2010 05:57 PM (FcR7P)

24 Obama will use this weapon to incinerate the Valu-Rite distillery.

Posted by: sifty at July 20, 2010 05:58 PM (BimL7)

25 Pretty damn cool. Is this the point where we find out GI Joe is real too?

Posted by: Tungsten Monk at July 20, 2010 06:02 PM (CfDPe)

Cool, but they're gonna need a lot more power, because 300mph is pretty slow, and it took 10 seconds for that laser to have any effect. If you let an attacking aircraft get within a few miles of you, they tend to do unfair shit like firing missiles that close with you at Mach 3.

I am sure they will find that power, BTW, unless Preznint Buoy Wander finds a way to defund the research.

Posted by: sherlock at July 20, 2010 06:04 PM (thr9V)

27 12 Now if I can just get one mounted on the hood of my car!

The space program has brought many neat things to consumers.

Posted by: Otis Criblecoblis at July 20, 2010 06:04 PM (kJXs1)

Posted by: Tommy Gunnar at July 20, 2010 06:05 PM (rQTdM)

29 I need that. Like. Need.

Posted by: alexthechick at July 20, 2010 06:06 PM (AnZTG)

30 I just have one question. My donkey had to par sail and then she got taken advantage of.

If she has a mixed race donkey, will that hurt my campaign?

http://tinyurl.com/2blslds

Posted by: Alvin, the candidate, not the chipmunk at July 20, 2010 06:08 PM (2+9Yx)

31 Imagine this as the Pong of lazers. Give it another 10 years and we'll be able to pop attacking alien warships. Better get cracking on force fields soon.

Posted by: James Tiberius Kirk at July 20, 2010 06:10 PM (rurh0)

32 The only way that this could be more awesome is if it was fired from a ship called the USS Tiburon.......

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 20, 2010 06:11 PM (9Lm5R)

33 Laser rifles for our troops can't be too far behind (shudder).

Posted by: phoenixrisen at July 20, 2010 06:11 PM (PaGCE)

34 This is pretty cool, but we're not quite to Ravening Death Rays just yet. As you watch the video, you see that the target UAV is flying level in a straight line and requires several seconds (at least 3 maybe 4) of continuous lasing before it loses control authority and begins its death dive. This is because beam output and the ability to keep it focused on a tight spot on the target are still lacking. If the UAV were flying an evasive pattern it may take a few more seconds (maybe quite a few more) to put enough energy on the target to kill it at this point. Those extra seconds could mean the difference between a dead UAV carrying a bomb on a kamikaze attack and a dead laser armed ship. We aren't even getting into the problem of supersonic and low hypersonic antiship cruise missiles...

Posted by: Reactor-Axe-Man at July 20, 2010 06:11 PM (yhnTF)

35 And for more laser goodness....this was linked on a previous ONT (from my hat-tip, bitchez). DIY Star Trek Phaser http://tinyurl.com/y8mr4ox

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 20, 2010 06:12 PM (9Lm5R)

2016 for this laser to be possibly deployed.

2014 Obamacare fully kicks in.

2015 NASA might see a new heavy lift rocket

So once again the President votes Present and kicks the real deciding down the road and onto the next administration.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 20, 2010 06:14 PM (ZwC4c)

37 #22

Re Laser in link price increases from $199 to $299 on the 23th of July.

If you want one of these bad boys order up!

http://tinyurl.com/2v32m26

I got no dog in this hunt, waiting for mine. They come from Hong Kong.

Posted by: Kemp at July 20, 2010 06:17 PM (2+9Yx)

38
That thing could remove one hell of a slut sticker.

Posted by: beer and pizza guy at July 20, 2010 06:17 PM (Oxen1)

39 One exciting aspect is that the laser is only 32kw. People used to talk about 100kw as being "weapons-grade", so something seems to have improved (focus? beam control?) to make lower powered lasers militarily useful.

Posted by: huh at July 20, 2010 06:17 PM (+ABdJ)

Does the inverse-square law of light intensity apply to coherent light such as from a laser? I think not, but I call upon the moron-hive-mind giga-brain to settle the question.

And none of this "47" shit, okay?

Posted by: sherlock at July 20, 2010 06:20 PM (thr9V)

41 beer and pizza guy, Okay, now I feel like the nun at the party, what's a slut sticker?

Posted by: nerdygirl at July 20, 2010 06:21 PM (Sh5NF)

42 Let's mount one of those bad boys on that hypersonic racecar they're working on.

Posted by: Roy at July 20, 2010 06:22 PM (Ukl+Y)

43
Same as a tramp stamp.

Posted by: beer and pizza guy at July 20, 2010 06:22 PM (Oxen1)

44 Here's another take on this hand held laser. Can't wait to kill some crows with this bad boy!

http://tinyurl.com/2denlb8

Posted by: Kemp at July 20, 2010 06:26 PM (2+9Yx)

45 I wanna shoot one a these at Obama's little puppy nuts. Obviously, I mean this rhetorically.

Posted by: Rev Jesse Jackson at July 20, 2010 06:36 PM (hCQG5)

46 Never happened! Fire doesn't melt steel!
Google it!

Posted by: Rosie O'Dumbass at July 20, 2010 06:37 PM (hCQG5)

47 I know what will stop that laser...me!

As soon as Putin tells me to.

Posted by: Barack Neville Obama at July 20, 2010 06:38 PM (y78/5)

Thanks to our vigorous Intelligence, it took the Chinese a whopping three days to duplicate the laser. This shows our ability to keep secrets is strengthening as, previous top secret technologies were usually in Chinese hands before we even completed testing.

/sarc

Posted by: JDW at July 20, 2010 06:40 PM (pgFlh)

49
So when is the Navy going mount the frickin lasers on the frickin sharks?

Posted by: Dr. Evil at July 20, 2010 06:48 PM (roBAy)

50 Oh. Wow. Cool. We're busy exploring how Islam can help us not go into space. Call me.

Posted by: NASA at July 20, 2010 06:52 PM (C8Pcc)

51 49

/sarc

Posted by: JDW at July 20, 2010 10:40 PM (pgFlh)

You actually think that under this commie ass administration it's going to take 3 days??? I'd give it 32 hours. max.

Posted by: tangonine at July 20, 2010 06:54 PM (C8Pcc)

52 B+rry will share the technology with our enemies.

Posted by: torabora at July 20, 2010 06:55 PM (pXQkX)

53 And the Muslim contribution to this program was...

C'mon now...someone speak up.

*hears crickets*

I always thought "unmanned drone" was a reference to Perez Hilton.

Posted by: MrScribbler at July 20, 2010 07:00 PM (Ulu3i)

54 B+rry will share the technology with our enemies.

Thanks to my Grand Apology Tour, America now has no enemies!

Posted by: President Pitchingwedge at July 20, 2010 07:03 PM (E8Z3S)

55 _{**being nudged in the side by Obama's elbow**}

Um, we'd like to acknowledge and thank all the Muslims that made a contribution to this endeavor -- without them this technological breakthrough would obviously not have been possible.

Posted by: US Navy Spokesman at July 20, 2010 07:05 PM (K4HTh)

56 Don't sweat it, we're doing target practice on, um, Iranian weather sats. Yeah!

Posted by: darpa at July 20, 2010 07:11 PM (E1/9G)

57 The inverse squared law does NOT apply to lasers. In fact lasers are the exact opposite of the rule. Inverse squared only refers open propagation from a Point source. I think the number you might want to get upset with is 42.

Posted by: Suicidal idiot at July 20, 2010 07:17 PM (Lx+lF)

58 I feel kinda choked up with news of this...it's...beautiful....

Posted by: unknown jane at July 20, 2010 07:18 PM (5/yRG)

59 It's a darn good thing that Ted Kennedy is dead.
He coined the term "Star Wars" as applied to Reagan's missile defense proposal.

Posted by: Neo at July 20, 2010 07:18 PM (tE8FB)

60 It is only recently, however, that the solid state lasers were able to generate as much power as the chemical equivalent.

That this laser doesn't require the chemicals that were used in the Airborne Laser is quite an achievement.

But don't worry folks, in order to fund his social programs, Obie will probably cancel this one as well.

Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at July 20, 2010 07:19 PM (rXbvW)

But even if the laser system continues to test positively, it is unlikely it would be ready for battlefield use until 2016, the firm said.

Which means it's already being tested in battle conditions.

Posted by: ErikW at July 20, 2010 07:20 PM (E1/9G)

62 Unmanned drones? They shot down Maddow, O'Donnell, Behar and Baba Wawa?

Posted by: andycanuck at July 20, 2010 07:30 PM (7b1Uc)

Does the inverse-square law of light intensity apply to coherent light such as from a laser? I think not, but I call upon the moron-hive-mind giga-brain to settle the question.

And none of this "47" shit, okay?

Short Answer: no. Long Answer: go here. <-- a good primer on lasers as weapons.

Posted by: Reactor-Axe-Man at July 20, 2010 07:42 PM (yhnTF)

64 One problem - with the Obama Adm., it's just a matter of time before the Russians and Chinese get their hands on this technology.

Posted by: Edge at July 20, 2010 07:42 PM (h7kan)

65 That's some hot shit right thar.

Posted by: km at July 20, 2010 07:50 PM (ehqqs)

66 Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy an unmanned drone is insignificant next to the power of the Force.

Posted by: Darth Minor at July 20, 2010 07:56 PM (7ppar)

67 Come on now, people. Islam contributed. Some goats. And some women that were hung for being raped...and some really inaccurate AK-47 fire with Chinese ammunition.

REPRESENT!

Posted by: tangonine at July 20, 2010 08:04 PM (C8Pcc)

68 66 One problem - with the Obama Adm., it's just a matter of time before the Russians and Chinese get their hands on this technology.

Posted by: Edge at July 20, 2010 11:42 PM (h7kan)

Um. You mean the One Problem with every liberal administration/state department since, oh, about 1910?

Posted by: tangonine at July 20, 2010 08:06 PM (C8Pcc)

69 You haters have no idea how much muslims have contributed to the improvement of the targeting mechanism in the modern Hellfire missile.

Posted by: Cicero at July 20, 2010 08:24 PM (7ppar)

70 54 And the Muslim contribution to this program was...

Posted by: MrScribbler at July 20, 2010 11:00 PM (Ulu3i)

A moving target.

Posted by: Spitz512 at July 20, 2010 08:25 PM (XUIJ5)

71 Is a plasma rifle in the 40 watt range under a concealed carry law?

Posted by: Jay in Ames at July 20, 2010 08:28 PM (LJaVO)

I...WANT...ONE...NOW!!!!

Posted by: Aaron at July 20, 2010 08:30 PM (XUIJ5)

73 So...the movie quote "Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range." isn't so far off, then, isn't it?

Posted by: fluke_boy at July 20, 2010 08:34 PM (HVBms)

74 Come back to me when they mount it on a flying car or a sex-bot.

Posted by: Serge Longthrust at July 20, 2010 08:36 PM (XUIJ5)

75 I just picked up the new civilian version. Won't kill anything, but I catch some nice rays from it!

Posted by: George Hamilton at July 20, 2010 08:43 PM (gbGSI)

76 + Maybe new lambda|od

Posted by: adaptive optics at July 20, 2010 09:24 PM (Co/Ws)

77 the chinese will have it copied,mass produced, and sold at the local Irananian Wal Mart by the end of September.

Posted by: befuddled at July 21, 2010 01:44 AM (xJU23)

Obama will use this weapon to incinerate the Valu-Rite distillery.

That SOB. IMPEACHMENT NOW!!!!

Posted by: harleycowboy at July 21, 2010 05:28 AM (i0OFZ)

... the target UAV is flying level in a straight line and requires several seconds (at least 3 maybe 4) of continuous lasing before it loses control authority and begins its death dive. This is because beam output ...

Imagine a carrier or destroyer dedicated to laser only. This won't be a problem

Posted by: harleycowboy at July 21, 2010 05:31 AM (i0OFZ)

80 How come California gets all the cool laser beam tests and all we get here in Central PA is recreations of terrorists bombs?

Posted by: dfbaskwill at July 21, 2010 05:57 AM (usjNq)

I shall call it, the Phalanx of Love

I suggest "The Light of Reason". The 'Reason' being... you piss me off,

"The Lamp Of Enlightenment" because as you plunge into the sea burning in the flames of your fuel you will obtain enlightenment (ya shouldn't've f*ked with America).

Posted by: chuck in st paul at July 21, 2010 07:39 AM (adr25)

@34 Laser rifles for our troops can't be too far behind (shudder).

No, no - ya wants ta get a rail gun. Lasers can be defeated by smoke and fog, a rail gun 'shoots' a slug like a conventional rifle but it goes wa-a-a-a-ay faster and caused outrageous damage due to the speed at impact. The shock wave following the slug creates massive damage as it spends its energy in the hole made by the slug. Things can actually explode from the impact. Cool.

Posted by: chuck in st paul at July 21, 2010 07:53 AM (adr25)

83 Anyone know the model of the drone?

Posted by: Michael E. Stora, Ph.D. at July 21, 2010 08:18 AM (Bk8Wa)

"And the Muslim contribution to this program was..."

Motivation.

Posted by: reason at July 21, 2010 08:23 AM (F26eZ)

85 Let's see how long it takes B. Hussien Obama or someone in the Democrat/Socilaist party to give the tecnhnology away.

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