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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) by tsqr on Thursday February 20 2014, @03:50PM

    by tsqr (1663) on Thursday February 20 2014, @03:50PM (#3520)

    So, in the attack on the USS Cole, how many American civilians were at risk?

    And how does the Cole being in Yemen improve the safety of citizens halfway around the world?

    Thanks for moving the goalposts, from "Americans" to "American civilians". Naval vessels on deployment typically don't carry very many civilians. But that isn't the point. If you're not familiar with the political geography of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, I suggest you consult a map. US naval vessels have long been routinely deployed to this area to protect civilian shipping from piracy (usually from Somalia, which just across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen).

    Of course, if you think that sailors losing their lives in attacks is just a part of their jobs, then you probably also think that merchant seamen shouldn't complain about being attacked by pirates, as it's just part of the job. And should you ever be mugged, you can draw comfort from the fact that it's just part of city life.