The US Military Will Usher in a Widespread Use of Laser Weapons in the 2020s
Lasers have been a mainstay of sci-fi battles for decades. But making them practical for the battlefield has proven difficult. Now, private contractors and government agencies have developed weapons systems that are making science fiction a reality. This was made evident when Lockheed Martin and the US Army recently announced, a successful test of a 60-kilowatt (kW) laser. This one was twice as powerful as one they assessed in 2015.
The basic design was first introduced via the Department of Defense's (DoD) Robust Electric Laser Initiative Program, launched in 2010. Most laser weapons would require a large power supply. In this way, they’re stuck being mounted at a permanent base, which isn’t so useful. Over time, laser technology has grown small enough, yet powerful enough to serve military purposes. They have incredible advantages, including not having to store or deploy expensive ordinance, and a near unlimited firing capacity.
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