The US Army expects to shoot down aircraft with counter-air laser weapons

Laser guns will not be limited to shooting down drone. The US military is planning to develop a laser weapon that can shoot down planes and missiles.

This laser weapon is powerful enough to shoot down planes, even missiles. (Illustration).

Gen. James Dickenson, US Defense and Space Commission chief, revealed that the military was preparing lasers 10 times more powerful than the lasers being tested (USS Ponce landing craft). The US successfully tested the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) , which attacked at lightning speed, 50,000 times faster than intercontinental ballistic missiles), ranging from 50kW to 100kW. This laser is powerful enough to shoot down planes, even missiles (theoretically) using sensors. It also does not require huge trucks to transport as it currently does.

The first test with a 50kW laser will take place in 2018 using an upgraded version of the HEL-MTT truck that you can see on the picture. However, in 2022, the US military plans to test a 100kW laser on a faster platform, such as an armored carrier. If successful, the US military would own a weapon system that could withstand helicopter attacks and possibly even destroy it.

Of course, 100kW lasers may not be strong enough in some cases. It will not be effective when attacking rocket-propelled missiles, as the laser will not have enough time to reach the missile. However, the US military can still test more powerful systems in the future.