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Old May 18th 17, 02:44 PM posted to rec.arts.sf.science,sci.space.policy,sci.optics,sci.physics,sci.military.naval
Fred J. McCall[_3_]
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Default Reusable Laser Launcher

"Robert Clark" wrote:

"Fred J. McCall" wrote in message
.. .
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"Robert Clark" wrote:


"Robert Clark" wrote in message news
The Navy has already tested ship-borne lasers at 30 kW power to shoot down
drones:


Well, no. They have tested shipborne laser (not lasers) at a power
level that will never be actually deployed because it's far too small.

snip

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The U.S. Navy is testing ...


That's "has tested", not "is testing".


... a 30 kilowatt laser ...


Like I said, A laser at power levels too low to be deployed.


... on the USS Ponce that can take out small boats and small drones.


Very small boats and drones.


The plan is to install a more powerful 150
kW laser that can take out larger ships and aircraft:


That's at least three years out. And any ship that gets one will need
at least half a megawatt of spare electrical capacity. That's quite a
stretch, given that big ships like the ARLEIGH BURKE class only have
7.5 MW total and there is already concern whether they can power
potential radar upgrades.


--
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable
man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore,
all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
--George Bernard Shaw