DZComposer Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Fighter Technology has taken another step closer towards the Arwing! The Air-Force is designing a laser cannon to be mounted on F-16 fighters. This isn't replacing the jets' machine guns yet, rather it is the latest anti-missile defense system. "The High Energy Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS), being designed by the Pentagon's central research and development agency, will weigh just 750 kg (1,650 lb) and measures the size of a large fridge." --- "If everything goes according to plan, an even more powerful weapon producing a 150-kW beam and capable of knocking down a missile will be ready by 2007 for fitting onto aircraft." SRC= http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/08/24/military.laser.reut/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvolutionSFox Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 That... is... friggin'... swesome... (sweet + awesome = swesome) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XG Fox Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 I thought they were retiring the F-16 and replacing it with the F-22 Raptor? Oh well. F-16's PWN ALL, except for today's latest stealth fighters. If they get this to work, that will be SO awesome! The pilots can't miss then! Once a target would get under the crosshair, they just pull the trigger to annihilate it. Lightspeed = 186,000 miles per second. Mach 4 for a missile = EXTREMELY SLOW compared to that. And if they used it against other fighters... ouch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravisFox Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 The cost effectiveness verses the budget may shut down the project as many others have. I will be watching hoping the budget for this program is suddenly moved to a quote "Better" program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galactic Jaguar Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 cool...and if there was a malfunction with the lazer cannon wouldnt it be a huge hazard to the pilot?...im not saying its a bad idea though. It sounds like mission 8 in starfox assault...taking down missiles and all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dragonstorm Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Wait, it's a antimissile system? You blast the missiles or make them go off to early, right? But lasers would be hard to use. If you miss, the laser simply continues until it hits something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DZComposer Posted August 25, 2005 Author Share Posted August 25, 2005 I'm sure it will be aimed by computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dragonstorm Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 But a computer can altso miss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galactic Jaguar Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Unless the comp measures the rate of the other object and times the shot correctly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger One Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Hmmmm.... interesting.... but something tells me we won't hear too much about these untill they're either ready to use or they scrap the project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XG Fox Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 I'm sure it will be aimed by computer. Probably will be, maybe a small little ball turret on the bottom or top? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts