America revealed the project of equipping modern laser weapons for fighter

Recently, the US military unveiled a project to equip laser weapons for fighters, with a capacity of 150-200 kW that can be used to combat air-to-air and air-to-air missiles.

The project is equipped with modern laser weapons for American fighter aircraft

The US military is studying future laser weapons and is expected to equip the Air Force's fighter aircraft as early as 2022. The US Navy last September spent $ 40 million to install a System. Laser System (LaWS) 30 kW on a USS Ponce amphibious transport ship. This weapon has not been used in real combat and only tried to target unmanned aircraft.

US military developed laser weapons for fighter

"Weapons can destroy sensors, burn engines and eventually detonate explosives that the target can carry. By focusing on the important points, sailors on Ponce have reduced time. needed to shoot down an unmanned aircraft " , Breaking Defense quoted Admiral Matthew Klunder, Chief of Naval Research.

The Pentagon wants to install LaWSs of more than 100 kW on a rack of arms outside the US Air Force fighter in 2022. The technology is real but still faces many limitations. The energy to create a laser beam is much larger than that of specialized weapons. However, it is easier to install LaWS on large warships than fighters. The mobility of fighters also makes it difficult for laser weapons to produce certain damage to the target if used.

" Aerial applications can be the biggest challenge , " said David Hardy, of the Air Force Research Department. " It is possible to install more sized devices, weight and power (SWAP) on board than airplanes. Plus, aircraft tend to shake more than ships." The US Air Force hopes to overcome these difficulties in the next few years.

American fighters will soon be equipped with laser weapons

An important step forward of this plan has been carried out by the Pentagon 's Senior Defense Research Project (DARPA ). HELLAD laser weapons systems can generate 150 kilowatts of energy while still securing jacks. The size is 10 times smaller and lighter than similar laser systems.

According to military experts, laser weapons with a capacity of 150-200 kW can be used to combat air-to-air and air-to-air missiles . In certain cases, lasers can be effective even when targeted at manned aircraft, especially at altitudes where the air is thinner.

The power of LaWS on aircraft is only dependent on the amount of fuel . "LaWS can fire as long as the aircraft has enough fuel to convert it into electricity for the laser," Hardy said. Some estimates show that a laser shot costs only 1 liter of fuel, much cheaper than air-to-air missiles. A US military official added: "We do not want to race to develop space weapons but the laser is fully capable of operating in space if necessary".