Open future air combat?The U.S. military receives the world's first airborne laser weapon, which can intercept air -to -air missiles

"Military and Military Secondary Point" Author: Lu Yan

Since entering the 21st century, laser weapons have begun to become a new era of weapons because of various advantages, and everyone knows that the 99 -type tank in my country has installed laser suppression and sighting systems, but this is actually the initial application of laser weapons. Recently, the U.S. Air Force has received the world's first airborne laser weapon system, and it is a pod formal weapon system. In the future, it can be installed on a variety of fighters and aircraft. The future is very good.

▲ Picture source: network.

The full name of this so -called new laser weapon is Lance high -energy laser weapon, and the full name is the next generation of advanced compact laser weapons. At present, the AFRL of the US Air Force Research Laboratory is mainly responsible for developing and integrating new technologies to enhance the combat strength of the army. Lance is the smallest and lightest high -energy laser in the same type of weapons made by Lockheed Martin. According to some of the current information, the output power of this laser weapon may not be higher than 100 kilowatts, which is only about 60 kilowatts, which means that its output power is even smaller than ordinary household cars, so the actual combat capability is that the actual combat capability is Very ordinary. The reason why the power is relatively small is limited. The current Lance is actually a laser weapon of a pod structure. From the effect chart, it can be seen that the attack navigation pods on the right side of the F16 intake trail are slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly slightly more slightly. It is a bit older, not even as good as the auxiliary fuel tank below the wing.

▲ Picture source: network.

The current use of this pod in the United States is actually mainly used to test the various possibilities of laser weapons, but in the future, this weapon must be used as aggressive and defensive weapons to support aircraft.

▲ Picture source: network.

At this stage, laser weapons are smaller in order to ensure that they are small enough. For example, the LANCE just introduced is less than 100 kilowatts, and the US military's current positioning of laser weapons is a defensive weapon. Whether in the past or now stealth fighters, when suffering from air defense missiles and air -to -air missiles, they can often only use mobile avoidance and interference bombs to seduce. However, as high -performance infrared imaging came out of close -range fighting missiles, there was almost no obvious effect using interference bombs, and maneuvering to avoid the restrictions on the overload of the pilot, and it was difficult to carry out too high maneuverability. Laser weapons can quickly aim at the missiles that are striped in a short period of time and burn the important structure of missiles, and even detonate directly in the air. The interception efficiency is much higher than the various interference bombs currently used.

▲ Picture source: network.

In addition, when the weather environment is relatively good, the range of laser weapons will increase, and even laser weapons with relatively small power can burn the missile within a distance. It is precisely because of this that laser weapons are even considered a key technology for the next generation of close -range intercepting weapons, such as deploying on warships or military bases, but only subject to environmental and weather restrictions. Laser interception weapons used on the ground and warships are The system needs to fight with other missiles or near -defense artillery.

▲ Picture source: network.

The United States is currently only conducting early tests. If the test is perfect, it is likely to carry this laser weapon on the future advanced fighter. In addition to conventional interception, it can also be used as an offensive weapon. It is nearby. It is nearby. Burning the enemy fighter with extremely high efficiency when fighting. For cruise missiles and various offensive weapons, interception efficiency is also very high. According to the US media, it is unclear to what levels of the basic technology of American laser weapons have developed, and whether the problems existing in the past have been fundamentally solved, but the Lance laser delivery of the Air Force is obviously a huge milestone towards actual combat. At present, there are no precedents for other countries to carry laser weapon testing on the Air Force fighter. If the United States can ensure that its sufficient technical advantages develop rapidly, then the laser field may be the first.

▲ Picture source: network.

- END -