Weapons

Stealth Assassins: Could the Air Force Arm F-35s with Laser Weapons?

The service anticipates having aircraft and fighter jet-fired lasers in operation as soon as the early 2020s, as mobile power systems and other integral technologies continue to evolve rapidly.

Not only do laser weapons bring increased precision attacks at the speed of light to incinerate targets, but they can be scaled or adjusted to achieve a desired effect - such as total destruction, partial damage or an even smaller, more measured impact, depending upon the threat.

“Laser weapons offer warfighters opportunities for quick and precise target engagement, flexibility and lighter and more responsive support logistics,” Eva Blaylock, spokeswoman for the Air Force Research Laboratory, told Warrior Maven in a written statement.

The Air Force Research Lab, which has been leading the effort from Kirtland Air Force Base, has been working on laser weapons development for many years now. They have already conducted several ground-fire tests and are now preparing for initial air-launched demonstrations. The next test, according to AFRL information, includes a fighter-jet configured laser pod to be fired from the ground, in anticipation of airborne integration.

The two major ARFL programs include an air-to-air weapons program called the Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHIELD) and a ground-fired Demonstrator Laser Weapon System. AFRL is working with Lockheed Martin on SHIELD in anticipation of having operational lasers within the next few years.