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US Navy Plans to Deploy Laser Weapon

posted by Dopefish on Wednesday February 19 2014, @10:30AM   Printer-friendly
from the shoop-da-woop dept.

Sir Garlon writes:

"According to the Associated Press, the US Navy has announced plans to actually deploy an operational laser weapon aboard the USS Ponce later this year.

The solid-state laser weapon system is designed to target what the Navy describes as 'asymmetrical threats.' Those include aerial drones, speed boats and swarm boats, all potential threats to warships in the Persian Gulf, where the Ponce, a floating staging base, is set to be deployed.

'It fundamentally changes the way we fight,' said Capt. Mike Ziv, program manager for directed energy and electric weapon systems for the Naval Sea Systems Command."

 
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  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 19 2014, @12:24PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 19 2014, @12:24PM (#2369)

    How many of the sailors will suffer eye damage from reflections, or even looking at the laser assembly just to see it in operation? Humans are curious creatures and will want to 'take a peek'.

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  • (Score: 5, Funny) by damnbunni on Wednesday February 19 2014, @12:37PM

    by damnbunni (704) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @12:37PM (#2376) Journal

    That's why lasers have that warning label: 'Do not look into beam with remaining eye.'

  • (Score: 0, Redundant) by calmond on Wednesday February 19 2014, @01:19PM

    by calmond (1826) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @01:19PM (#2417)

    The warning on the laser should prevent that. It reads: "Do not look into laser with remaining eye."

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 19 2014, @03:07PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 19 2014, @03:07PM (#2504)
    The Navy has a curious way of compelling the behavior of sailors. You might want to check into that.

  • (Score: 1) by takyon on Wednesday February 19 2014, @04:20PM

    by takyon (881) <{takyon} {at} {soylentnews.org}> on Wednesday February 19 2014, @04:20PM (#2559) Journal

    One per ship?

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