Lockheed Martin has deployed a 30kW fibre laser weapon to disable the engine of a truck.
Dubbed ATHENA (Advanced Test High Energy Asset) the ground-based prototype is said to have quickly burned through the engine manifold from over a mile away.
The truck was mounted on a test platform with its engine and drive train running to simulate what Lockheed Martin describes as ‘an operationally-relevant test scenario’.
In a statement, Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin chief technology officer said: ‘Fibre-optic lasers are revolutionising directed energy systems.
‘We are investing in every component of the system – from the optics and beam control to the laser itself – to drive size, weight and power efficiencies.
‘This test represents the next step to providing lightweight and rugged laser weapon systems for military aircraft, helicopters, ships and trucks.’
The demonstration is said to have marked the first field-testing of an integrated 30kW, single-mode fibre laser weapon system prototype. Through spectral beam combining, multiple fibre laser modules form a single, powerful, high-quality beam that provides greater efficiency and destructiveness than multiple individual 10kW lasers used in other systems.
ATHENA is based on the Area Defense Anti-Munitions (ADAM) laser weapon system developed by Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, California, which has been proven in demonstrations against small airborne and sea-based targets. It incorporates the 30kW Accelerated Laser Demonstration Initiative (ALADIN) fibre laser developed by the company in Bothell, Washington.
See our 2014 interview with Lockheed technology chief Dr Ray O Johnson for more on laser weapons
What a co-incidence that the report about this weapon is immediately above? two very positive advances: urine powered lighting and improved comfort for users of another medical advance.
Presumably were the money and effort used to create the first added to that from Bill Gates, etc to further develop the second, who knows what additional benefits might accrue. At a time when I gather some 70% of ALL those, throughout mankind’s history, who have ever been trained in the sciences are presently alive and practicing…it is surely time that we asserted our role: and certainly time to tell the military where to put ‘their’ -actually our!) R&D funding.
Please address any remarks about my being a ‘leftist pinko..’ to those with most to gain from hearing them.
Wow,
query is that 30kW(photonic) delivered or 30kW(elec) input?
If the latter this is a staggering tool. A typical 1.6l ford focus ecotec engine will deliver about 134kW, with only minor conversion losses you’ll get about 125kW(elec) out.
If though that’s the latter it would be interesting to know what the efficiency of the system is. Somwhere in the recesses of my memory I recall from laser courses at uni that they’re highly inefficient but even at say 20% efficient that’s achievable with typical off-the shelf products that will easily fit in a pick-up truck.
Once again bragging about a new way to kill people! Think of what that laser can do to a crowd! When will we direct our money to peace instead of more war machines!
How is it “operationally relevant” if the vehicle is stationary and mounted at a 45 degree angle?? This has no real world credibility …..yet. Must be a funding exercise.
@nath,
30kW will be AVERAGE photonic output. Bear in mind that this will be a pulsed laser, it will not be firing constantly. Peak output energy will be in the hundreds of kilowatts.
Biggest achievement here is the range – atmospheric interference will require exponentially greater power the further a target is away, particularly for naval variants – the mineral-rich sea spray will inhibit the beam considerably.
^^ Steve M.
Rotate the plane of operation 45° and you have a horizontal truck being fired on by a laser at 45° – typically mounted in a helicopter.
This release is a joke. Take a good look at the picture and you’ll see that the truck is placed on jacks in the rear so its at a forty five degree angle, and the paint had been ground off or dulled with a grinder. They also don’t say how long they had to fire the laser to produce these results. They are just trying to drum up more research money, unless we have a large threat from stationary pickups at a 45 degree angle with a dull finish.
Hmm – if usage of such weapons ever becomes commonplace we might have to consider replacing the camouflage paint on military vehicles with chrome plating…
Since the world is getting a more and more dangerous place as more potential threat groups arrive on the scene, and more and more non military equipment-like the quadcopter I’ve just bought- can be usurped to insurgent or terrorist use, only the ill-informed, childish, ivory tower mob, or those who seek the end of our society would post in the negative about this.
Peace through superior firepower is the only way that’s worked on humankind so far, and there’s no evidence that the risky change to an alternative would be of any benefit.