ADAM is a high energy laser system mounted on a trailer allowing it to be transported around quickly to help defend high-value targets. It is still in prototype form, but basically uses a 10-kilowatt fiber laser which can be focused on to a moving target up to 2 kilometers away. That directed energy can disable or destroy the threat before it gets anywhere near its intended destination, and it does so without costing a lot of money to use repeatedly.
10 KW isn't very much, and should miniaturize nicely. And as long as you have gas for the generator, you don't need to get resupplied on munitions.
3 comments:
I'm impressed. The last time I saw this done they needed COIL chemical lasers, which are awful to work with and require constant topping-up with some pretty toxic chemicals. If they can do it with a 'normal' laser, that's a huge step towards making this militarily useful.
With that said, I used to work in this industry, and it's important to remember that the industry is 'selling defence contracts to the government' not 'arming an effective and efficient military'. See The Pentagon Wars.
Polish the casing, plate with silver, so much for the laser.
Unless the laser wavelength is in the near-uv.
@Dorsai: Nail, head, etc. To equip an effective and efficient military you would have to think about what 'the other guy' will do in reaction to your new technology. I thought about smoke, chaff and decoys but it's the same kind of thing: it's a fair fight and you see if your new technology will give you a consistent advantage that justifies the money spent.
If you're selling defence contracts to the government on the other hand, you want a flashy demo, with as many science fiction-y elements as possible.
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