Navy to deploy ship's laser

[decaro]

from the AP:

BATH, Maine — Some of the Navy's futuristic weapons sound like something out of "Star Wars," with lasers designed to shoot down aerial drones and electric guns that fire projectiles at hypersonic speeds.

That future is now.

The Navy plans to deploy its first laser on a ship later this year, and it intends to test an electromagnetic rail gun prototype aboard a vessel within two years.

For the Navy, it's not so much about the whiz-bang technology as it is about the economics of such armaments. Both costs pennies on the dollar compared with missiles and smart bombs, and the weapons can be fired continuously ...

[Zorch]

It's a 'friggin laser'!

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

It's a 'friggin laser'!

Wait till the USN mounts them on Sea Bass.

[Missouri_Rebel]

ORIGINAL: Joe D.

ORIGINAL: Zorch

It's a 'friggin laser'!

Wait till the USN mounts them on Sea Bass.

Did someone call for Sea Bass?

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: Joe D.

For the Navy, it's not so much about the whiz-bang technology as it is about the economics of such armaments. Both costs pennies on the dollar compared with missiles and smart bombs, and the weapons can be fired continuously ...

But I have seen it mentioned that R&D costs are HUGE