What's Inside Darpa's $21 Million 'Liquid' Laser?

Things are really beginning to heat up in the field of laser weapons. The giant Airborne Laser is finally gearing up for real-life, missile-zapping tests. New solid-state lasers like Raytheon's Phalanx can already shoot down mortar rounds. Now, Darpa is weighing in with an yet another technology: HELLADS or "High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System." Weaponeer Textron will get $21 million in Darpa bucks "to design, fabricate and test a Unit Cell Module for a 150 kilowatt (kW) Laser Weapon System," according to a company press release.
As you'd expect from Darpa, the new laser is aiming for quantum leap, with a power-to-weight ratio ten times better than existing laser systems. The end product will be the size of a large refrigerator and weight of 1650 pounds. And a hundred and fifty kilowatts is real weapons-grade, compared to existing solid state lasers which still zap in the tens of kilowatts.  Read more...

Shoot down mortars!  Did you catch that?  But, can it show out my bitch's wheels while she's driving to the mall, checkbook in tow?  If not, not interested...  Pooch Doggy Dog

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