The UK says it conducted a 'groundbreaking' trial of a laser beam weapon that can neutralize targets for $0.12 a shot - eviltoast
The UK's MOD said it test-fired a laser weapon that can track multiple targets and costs just $0.12 a shot, as nations look at ways to combat drones.
  • The UK said it test-fired a laser beam weapon in a “groundbreaking” trial.
  • The Ministry of Defence said it could neutralize targets for just $0.12 a shot.
  • Countries are racing to develop weapons that can combat drones and missiles.
  • sudo@programming.devEnglish
    2·
    3 months ago

    The US has been playing with these kinds of lasers for over a decade now. Last I saw a demonstration, the laser wasn’t powerful enough to just zap something. It had to focus on a warhead and heat it up until it exploded. It wouldn’t work on a missile in flight. Maybe they improved it, but I suspect the introduction of slow drones like the Iranian Shahed made it feasible.

    The cost per shot was pennies a decade ago. But how fast can they shoot these? It must be able to shoot fast and constantly if you want to deal with swarms.