DARPA is serious about laser weapons

DARPA concept image of a B-1 bomber jet with a HELLADS laser turret / DARPA

The Pentagon wants laser weapons badly. Their first foray into the realm of ray guns was the impressive-but-impractical Airborne Laser Testbed, a Boeing 747 with a giant laser mounted on its nose. That project was scrapped, but the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is moving ahead with two new plans to make laser weaponry a reality.

The High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS) is DARPA's answer to increasingly sophisticated surface-to-air threats. These liquid-cooled lasers would be mounted on turrets on combat airplanes to shoot down incoming rockets or missiles.

DARPA's description of HELLADS also mentions "additional capability for offensive missions as well -- adding precise targeting with low probability of collateral damage."

The goal of the project is to design a 150-kilowatt system small enough to fit on fighter jets and bombers. DARPA says that HELLADS will be "ten times smaller and lighter than current lasers of similar power."

The second project DARPA is working on is Aero-Adaptive/Aero-Optic Beam Control (ABC). This system is more defensive than HELLADS. The ABC lasers are designed to shoot backwards -- the direction that most oncoming missiles come from. The difficulty with this is that the turbulence generated by a jet engine can de-focus laser beams and makes targeting a challenge. Like HELLADS, the laser would be mounted on a turret.

Both projects are much further along than one might think. HELLADS will see its first real-world, airborne tests next year. ABC has passed wind tunnel tests and Lockheed Martin has a 30-month contract to make the system a reality.

[Henri_Rochard]

I presume the airborne lasers will eventually work after a cost of who knows how many billions of dollars are spent.

Then the Chi-Coms will get the technology for virtually free via spying or some other similar method.

[micmac666]

Free R&D ... again. Where do you think the manufacturers are for many of the components? You guessed it.

[goffredo29]

I do own a shoulder-fired carbon dioxide laser. I use it mostly for deer hunting.

[HobartSchmenge]

*Yawn*

This is so a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

[Xthes]

??? We've had laser guided missles for a few year now, why wouldn't this be the next logical step?

[myopinionpal]

The best weapon they can come up with is a cloaking device, you can't hit what you can't see.

[enlightenu]

that is a defensive weapon.

[ikestarnes]

When can I get one in scary black rifle form?

[enlightenu]

Personally I want one in NES Zapper form.

[kevboom]

Don't give the NRA any more ideas!

[Necroscope84]

I want our airplanes to have frickin laser beams!

[micmac666]

Choo got it, mang.

[parisdakar]

"...additional capability for offensive missions..." You'd better believe it. Being able to vaporize a terrorist in his tracks anywhere on the planet sounds like the best weapon ever. Let's hope it's so scary that no one dares f with us.

[Ericwvb]

How's it feel to be frozen?! Yeah, ice is nice!

[yelobrikroad]

stay on target...stay on target...

[inketolstoy]

Use the force Luke. Not the laser targeting system.