laser weapon News

laser weapon News From AOL News

Test of Missile-Blasting Laser Weapon Fizzles

(Sept. 7) -- A much-anticipated test of a laser cannon deployed on a Boeing jumbo jet failed to blow up a target meant to mimic a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile. The failure, which has not been previously reported, occurred during an exercise that was supposed to demonstrate the laser's ability to shoot down an incoming...

Pentagon Again Delays Test of Missile-Blasting Laser

WASHINGTON (Aug. 18) -- The Defense Department was forced to delay again a key test of a powerful missile-destroying laser equipped on a Boeing aircraft due to technical problems. The test, described as "unprecedented," was scheduled for Tuesday night at a sea test range off California, but officials were forced to...

New Laser Weapon Blasts Spy Drones Out of the Sky

(July 19) -- A U.S. defense company wants to take drone wars to a new level with a laser weapon capable of shooting down unmanned aircraft. Raytheon today touted its new weapon, which brought down four drones over the Pacific Ocean during tests conducted with the U.S. Navy this spring. "One of the Navy's problems is that...

Background on laser weapon

Many scientific, military, medical and commercial laser applications have been developed since the invention of the laser in 1958. The coherency, high monochromaticity, and ability to reach extremely high powers are all properties which allow for these specialized applications.

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