Laser Weapon Stops Truck in Its Tracks — from a Mile Away

A laser weapon made with the aid of Lockheed Martin can stop a small truck useless in its tracks from extra than a mile (1.6 kilometers) away, the enterprise announced this week.

The laser machine, referred to as ATHENA (brief for superior test excessive electricity Asset), is designed to guard military forces and key infrastructure, Lockheed Martin representatives said. all through a recent field take a look at, the laser managed to burn through and disable a small truck's engine.

The truck became now not riding typically; it turned into on a platform with the engine and drivetrain jogging, Lockheed Martin representatives stated. The milestone is the very best electricity ever documented by way of a laser weapon of its type, in keeping with the organisation. Lockheed is predicted to behavior extra checks of ATHENA.

"Fiber-optic lasers are revolutionizing directed energy systems," Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin's chief generation officer, said in a announcement. "This check represents the next step to supplying light-weight and rugged laser-weapon structures for army aircraft, helicopters, ships and trucks."

The ATHENA gadget might be a boon for the military due to the fact the laser can stop ground-based adversaries from interfering with operations long before they attain the the front traces, agency representatives stated.

The laser weapon is primarily based on a similar device referred to as place protection Anti-Munitions (additionally developed by means of Lockheed Martin), which makes a speciality of airborne threats. The 30-kilowatt extended Laser Demonstration Initiative — the laser in ATHENA itself — turned into additionally made through Lockheed.

The current take a look at turned into the first time that one of these laser became examined within the subject, the corporation stated. The accelerated Laser Demonstration Initiative is a multifiber laser created thru a way known as spectral beam combining. essentially, the device takes a couple of lasers and mashes them into one. Lockheed representatives said this beam "provides extra efficiency and lethality than a couple of person 10-kilowatt lasers utilized in other systems."

last yr, Lockheed additionally highlighted laser defense talents in an illustration check between two boats that have been placed approximately 1 mile aside. The vessels, described as "navy-grade," have been stopped less than 30 seconds after the laser burned thru the boat's rubber hull.