US Testing Its Monstrously Powerful Laser Warships To Beat Hypersonic Missiles

The Navy faces a growing threat from China, whose numerical superiority is increasing every year. To meet this challenge, the US Navy is heavily upgrading its destroyers with laser weapons and is ready to introduce a next-generation warship with previously unseen capabilities. Let's find out what it is!

[@superthrustjon]

We keep hearing about how much China has, but for better or worse, America stays at war. Our military is far more experienced. That counts for a lot.

[@chadb5026]

Let's hope so.

[@stig8050]

America was created in war. Knows how to fight to a tee. Number one for a reason.

[@persona250]

Your military is used to funnel vast amounts of money to greedy corporations.

[@louischau7982]

Yeah right . A lot of you experience getting off from ROOF TOP like in Afghanistan 😂

[@superthrustjon]

@@louischau7982 chinas a 3rd world country masquerading as a 1st world country. Get back to work making my iphone.

[@distar97]

I built a xenon flash ruby laser back in the 60’s. I was impressed at how it pierced sheet metal. I knew someday I’d live to see high kilowatt lasers. Believe me that megawatt is coming.

[@Aokitadamitsu]

the electron 400kw is suppose to flash burn Missiles and Planes in under a second, I thought the larger issues where getting the lenses right so you could go past the 10-12mile range? Also they have chemical megawatt scale lasers, but they are wanting electron for the efficiency. man I would love to see what a 1Mw laser would do to a surface ship... burn a hole through it at the water line or through the bridge and light it on fire?

[@johnsteiner3417]

"I advanced your project more than any three students already. What more do you want, Jerry?" "I want five megawatts by mid-May."

[@chetpomeroy1399]

This is only a tiny snippet of information the Pentagon is willing to tell us.

[@johnsteiner3417]

@@chetpomeroy1399 A given that is obvious.

[@ponaliramos9773]

We wouldn’t believe the type of technology that’s been developed in secret. I think we may already have the means to stop the missiles.and much more. The only question is are the people in control of these technologies in our side and I think not

[@rogerramjet6134]

They don't need new ships to mount these, just enough power generation to power them. Every carrier is a fantastic candidate to mount them all around the outside of the deck.

[@DeeegerD]

The thing about China is anything they make lasts about 30 days and breaks.

[@wirrack]

And amazingly, Russian military equipment is even worse. The Ruskie warships that recently steamed to Cuba was followed by a sea-going tug!

[@TangQinquan]

Try them and you'll learn the lesson the hard way

[@deebee4575]

@@TangQinquan OK China bot

[@davidrahrer]

@@wirrack It's always been this way, starting from the early days when the so-called "missile gap" was discovered to be a wide one, but in our favor, not theirs. Back then, the Soviets would fly the same few bombers around repeatedly at parades and air shows to give the impression that they had hundreds of them. However, the last time the Soviets-or Russia-had a true advantage was in the 1950s when they invested massive resources into rocket design and put their German scientists to work. Meanwhile, we hesitated, concerned about how it might look to use the scientists we had brought over. For a few years, they held the advantage while we regrouped and worked to catch up. By the time Lyndon B. Johnson became president, our intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) had already surpassed theirs in capability. Even in the 1970s, when Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko defected with a MiG-25 Foxbat-a plane that had been a major concern for the West-its electronics were found to rely on vacuum tubes. It was a reminder that their advancements were not as cutting-edge as we feared. Make no mistake, Russia still has a significant nuclear arsenal and remains a capable nuclear power. But in a conventional war against NATO, they wouldn’t stand a chance. As long as leaders like Putin, who dream of restoring old empires, remain in power, they will continue to be a threat. Having lived through both the Cold War and the hope that followed in the 1990s, I truly wish they had been able to break free from this cycle. We didn't always help the situation, but that's a different story.

[@royturnwall6467]

@@TangQinquan 😂😂😂Like Ukraine? Chinas ego is their biggest weakness but yeah US will destroy them. We don't flaunt our technology or put on these elaborate displays of how tough we think we are. We just get it done. But you go ahead and keep hoping.

[@jeffreybelden2491]

I served aboard a guided missile cruiser and destroyer in the 70's. We felt the bigger weapons being deployed, lasers wouldn't make the ship move in any such manner. Our birthing quarters were below the 5" gun, very loud and made the ship feel as though it were being pushed down. I was a hole snipe - BT (Boiler Technician). Still miss them days at sea, and especially the stars at night.

[@Burglecutter]

Interesting observation. The lasrers are probably far easier to aim, but you have to have a line of sight. Anything over the horizon will still require a missile or something similar.

[@davidturner4824]

Very interesting video, very informative. I am thrilled by these new Lazer systems being incorporated into our destroyers. I have lived long enough to see science fiction happening with these new weapons.

[@runnergo1398]

Don't vote Republican then because Republicans hate science and education that leads to this high tech stuff.

[@bossdog1480]

It's all fun and games until someone puts an eye out.

[@anssiluomaranta34]

"do not look directly at the operational end of the device"

[@wirrack]

My mother would say that, and I've never forgotten.

[@runnergo1398]

All fun and games until a satellite gets accidentally hit by a laser.

[@ordinaryjoe2247]

... then it's just fun.

[@wirrack]

@@runnergo1398 Why would we destroy our own satellites? The idea for deploying these weapons with the Space Force is to destroy the enemy's satellites if and when WW III begins.

[@tuberstitious]

The US NAVY should employ every technological advantage it can and guard against espionage in order to preserve our freedom and maintain our advantages vs all others.

[@thewholetruth-now]

What freedoms do you have thst others don't?

[@smyers820gm]

@@thewholetruth-now☝️ uh..excuse me sir. How about religious freedom for one 🤷‍♂️.

[@runnergo1398]

@@smyers820gm Religious freedom? You're trying to force people to only follow one religion. That is NOT religious freedom.

[@runnergo1398]

When has the US NAVY never employed every technological advantage?

[@smyers820gm]

@@runnergo1398 😂😂😂😂😂 how isolated are you 🤷‍♂️😂. In America you have freedom to worship whoever and however you wish 🤷‍♂️😂😂😂🤷‍♂️

[@dandiesel9966]

All we need now is the ION Cannon and we can watch C&C Generals Zero Hour play out in reality.

[@Chrisisballin]

How about the Tesla Coils from Red Alert 2. Those things were buff!

[@laurenceseale]

@@Chrisisballin You'd have to ask Elon.

[@kyawsoe5205]

Don’t forget US National debt 35 trillion $ . Use the money for investment in infrastructure for future generations .

[@juliuscesar4176]

@@kyawsoe5205 but that makes too much sense, and besides its fun to spend money that's not yours

[@johnsteiner3417]

That requires a nuclear reactor to produce the ions or a large gas comparison for non-nuclear ionization. And all you get is the ability to fry electronics, and there are already cheaper, smaller, more conventional means to do that.

[@TheParadoxDestroyer]

The sci fi weapons of the 1980s are here.

[@1StanTheMan1]

They were being developed at White Sands in the 1980's. HEL Program. This is 1950 ray gun Flash Gordon stuff

[@KevinGriffin-ks7cg]

Just like Star wars

[@TheParadoxDestroyer]

@@KevinGriffin-ks7cg I don't know how the world would handle light sabers, though.

[@stonecold6385]

Commissioned the USS Roosevelt DDG-80. It's awesome to see them continue to upgrade these already formidable ships. I was a Firecontrolman 1st class. I'd love to get a chance to tour one of the newest ones.

[@AgricultureTechUS]

I’m blown away by the detail in this video. Fantastic work!

[@bpsitrep]

Lasers are line of sight weapons and don't work too well on the curvature of the Earth. Still need missiles.

[@grossindecency]

More importantly, it's rendered completely useless by a simple smoke bomb or poor weather.

[@xm47ecr36]

Pretty sure the earth is flat and not round 😂 that's what Christopher Columbus said

[@CharlieK92004]

Dr. 🤝 Dr. 🤝 Dr.🤝 Dr.🤝 Dr.🤝 Dr.🤝 Dr.🤝 Dr.🤝 Dr.🤝 Dr.🤝 Dr.🤝 Dr.🤝 ( Spies Like Us )

[@juliuscesar4176]

Its seems that if Russia detects that the US can destroy all incoming missiles, Russia can take the scorched earth approach and detonate their nukes in place. the resulting fallout will still result in 90% deletion of all life on earth, even if a single Russian nuke never reaches the US. Also, what if Russia detonated all their nukes on and under the polar ice cap?

[@roboparks]

This is Fake. Lasers are being used with a rail Gun. Lasers will not shoot 300miles. The laser is used to transmit data of the target then the Rail gun is fired. those Destroyers would be unmand the whole ship would be a Power plant to fire a continuous beam .

[@thejdgoodwin]

I served on a Spruance-class destroyer. We were poorly armed...weak even. Our defenses were laughable. During my hitch our only real air defense was the NATO Sea Sparrow missile. They weren't that good. The hulls had no defense against torpedoes, and our superstructure was aluminum, which any weapon would cut like a hot knife through butter. Today's ships, especially the Arleigh Burkes, are FAR superior.

[@aktimes2]

I spent some of my duty time on the USS Beatty (DD-756). My have things changed.

[@Vernon-nd2yc]

All U.S Navy ships should have them!

[@correctednews1463]

It would seem that all that is needed to guard agaist a laser is a mirror. The way 'chrome' bumpers are made for model cars is to spray the parts with liquid aluminim. For plastic models, that requires chilling the plastic parts prior to spraying the molten aluminum. I would speculate that hypersonics are made from titanium or ceramics, both of which can be polished to highly refective surfaces. Chaff in the form of highly polished metal, gemstone, or ceramic particles could also be released in a cloud to disperse a laser. Definitely an interesting topic.

[@Sammasambuddha]

Better way is to keep the missile spinning so the laser never impacts one point long enough. Like how a bullet is 'rifled' for stability. You only have to adapt flight controls instead of new processing and or material costs. 👍

[@MaiqTheCapper]

Chrome is not the application of liquid aluminum, but aluminum can be chrome plated. Chrome is a chemical coating process that involves applying a thin layer of chromium to a raw metal substrate.

[@ix8750]

What? You don't know what you are saying.

[@runnergo1398]

Mirrors are useless against these types of lasers. Too much energy. It would burn through the mirror instantly.

[@russelld2925]

These lasers would pierce right through a mirror.

[@sam9206]

I think lasers on ships is a great idea. I hope they continue to develop rail guns too.

[@Gunni1972]

Why not reinvent RAILWAYS for once? Much more use cases in that.

[@thabomuso2575]

I saw a short newscast about this weapon about 3 years ago. One of the sailors who operated the gun claimed that it cost about 6 dollars to shoot with the smaller variants. He was in the Persian Gulf training to shoot down Iranian drones.

[@rungfang27]

I believe the rail gun project was shelved.

[@SandmanAlpha24]

@@sam9206 They are now projectile launchers...

[@SandmanAlpha24]

@rungfang27 Umm not really , just the projectile.

[@richardknapp570]

Interesting. Any info on how much the test version of DDX cost and how DDG(X) compares?

[@hvalenti]

I think the laser tech is far more advanced than some critics here are giving Lockheed Martin credit for. I don't think most quite appreciate the level of advancement.

[@Mseihcir6921]

Thank Y🫶U America 🇺🇸 💪🏼

[@JackReneo-ot9wl]

Can't help wondering why current destroyers are not built on flexible platforms already, enabling the swapping of guns for lasers!

[@_Breakdown]

3:17 / 3:24 - - radars - - 3:34 4:09 - - drone swarms - - 4:20 - - lasers to stop them 4:27 - - HELIOS laser 8:32 - - DDG[X] - - “X” = unknown

[@Gunni1972]

Yeah, astonishing how little actual facts can be put into the Video. They still needed 4 minutes for an intro, and explaining WHY.

[@RH-sb5co]

When do they get the Photon Torpedo upgrades

[@andyreiben]

1 megawatt lasers will be needed to destroy hypersonic missiles, add nuclear reactors, a way to cool all of this and avoid any high temperatures that could interfere with target acquisition with a high firing frequency, or even support by an onboard AI, let it neutralize enemy projectiles and everything will be fine!

[@JoeyBlogs007]

Perhaps they could cool with super chilled circulating seawater. They could retrofit this to existing ships and build in the design for future ships.

[@wesleygary6651]

Not gonna get a reactor on a destroyer. That (pardon the pun) ship has sailed when Eisenhower was president.

[@gottfriedheumesser1994]

1MW should not be a problem on such a ship even as this is not a continuous power.

[@juliuscesar4176]

Its seems that if Russia detects that the US can destroy all incoming missiles, Russia can take the scorched earth approach and detonate their nukes in place. the resulting fallout will still result in 90% deletion of all life on earth, even if a single Russian nuke never reaches the US. Also, what if Russia detonated all their nukes on and under the polar ice cap?

[@wesleygary6651]

@@gottfriedheumesser1994 i always wondered about the accuracy of these reports. From the aircraft carrier i served on to the dozen or so merchant ships the amount of power produced is mind boggling. A carrier could power a small city if harnessed. A cruiser, destroyer, fast frigate not so much but a 60 kw laser? I gotta do my homework before i say something untrue.

[@wavegun]

Build more Burkes.

[@josephmandarino6687]

Yeah.... Now we're talking... Lasers we have lasers 😂

[@lynnkramer1211]

Do they work in clouds and fog, seafoam spray or rain? Do they work under water?

[@TangoDelta8111]

Good question, I had not thot of. I was wondering how long to recharge each blast?

[@gidonricardo8629]

Yes, they literally break through the cloud. make a whole. if there's a beam, there's no steam. It is pretty amazing to see.

[@SandmanAlpha24]

They do now

[@kaelhooten8468]

These aren’t visible-light spectrum. Different wavelengths are used, generally IR. So, yes.

[@keithmuyres2039]

$2.2B, remind me to invest in the defense industry. They must be running with a 50% (or more) profit margin.

[@gidonricardo8629]

It's an Israeli development and the USA bought its seat on the project.

[@rungfang27]

I think the US has paid for most of the Israeli developments.

[@gidonricardo8629]

@@rungfang27 Impossible. the 3.8 million given to israel yearly comes with a price which means israel is not allowed to by airplanes from anyone but the US. Almost every patent in army technology is half american but the developement is mostly israeli

[@TManRB]

That would make the Navy invincible.

[@juliuscesar4176]

Its seems that if Russia detects that the US can destroy all incoming missiles, Russia can take the scorched earth approach and detonate their nukes in place. the resulting fallout will still result in 90% deletion of all life on earth, even if a single Russian nuke never reaches the US. Also, what if Russia detonated all their nukes on and under the polar ice cap?

[@Gunni1972]

That's what they thought, when a Typhoon hit them.

[@inyomoufizaWabbit]

They also continually fail to undermine their emotional well being if they had any to begin with

[@RayOvacRadio]

I was just thinking of this today, that's crazy now I see a video of it!

[@Gunni1972]

We all had juvenile ideas once. Put some education later, we didn't anymore. (we may have fantasized about it later in life, but if tax dollars are involved, Dreams won't cut it).

[@Calicarver]

Naming the dazzler system Odin is very neat. The norse highest god, Odin was wounded and lost sight on one eye.

[@alexmld123]

Laser is great and should keep researching this technology, but this may seem like a dumb question if a ship is getting swarmed by drones would a shotgun blast type weapon not be effective?

[@vsaitta]

It’s about time!!!

[@mattm4812]

A pack of the Navy Destroyers escorting a Nimitz or Ford class. Ultimate wrecking crew!

[@michaelmaultsby895]

There seems to be a potential to make missiles obsolete.

[@Michael-xc7wt]

Very important to main tech superiority. End best ship design for easy and rapid upgrades.

[@Michael-xc7wt]

Better strategy for future growth and upgrades

[@joeybulford5266]

Archimedes would be proud

[@MACE1-1]

IAW - We are currently implementing/deploying our space based DEW's to US Navy warships...

[@Sammasambuddha]

I just bought a 150K lumin flashlight from the jungle. Its basically an LED laser. 😮

[@quintdegourd6342]

It is my conviction you need scalar capabilities with lasers. This means three laser beams aimed at the same point for a fraction of a second is more effective than hitting an incoming missile with a beam that need one second of following the projectile or missile. Imagine a missile incoming at 5000 km/h or more.

[@carlosperez5825]

Very good I appreciate it, keep up the good work & More power hypersonic missile of US navy vsl's with Laser gun.....,Etc.,sana makabili ang adm ni PBBM to protect Philippine territory., Salamat & Good bless us.

[@konstantinosrigas8704]

I just can’t imagine a laser beam stopping a Hypersonic Missiles

[@DANA-lx8cv]

Wait. Didn't they already have these when they took on Godzilla years ago? ;)

[@chronicwizardmargol7265]

The speed of light is a game changer!

[@marcasswellbmd6922]

00:19 why do they do that to the bottom front of the ship.. What does that do for the ship?? Is it for balance?? It has to slow the ship down somewhat..

[@milothecat3213]

Its the ships sonar

[@NickSteffen]

It’s called a bulbous bow. It cancels out some of the wave created as the ship moves and makes it faster or more fuel efficient depending on its size and position. It is commonly used on most large ships. It’s been around for a while I think they started to show up in the 20s and were very popular in ww2

[@jonathanpratt56]

Forward sonar on the bulbusbow

[@jonathanpratt56]

It would be nice to see thorium molton salt reactors aboard small ships. No high pressure water.

[@Spatje-d4m]

Humanity should be ashamed of itself, my whole life there are wars, threats of nuclear war and selfishness beyond earth.

[@vinrusso821]

What is this guy talking about? 150 KW?? Lockheed already has 300 KW and will soon be coming out with the 400 KW.

[@keithmoorechannel]

Ah ha… I bet these lasers can control hurricanes! 😂

[@ioanbota9397]

They are so powerful I like it

[@asther113]

Protected by attack subs, a couple of destroyers using this capability can destroy a entire fleet of ships, scaring the crap out of any navy attacking it.

[@JaimeGerman-vc5ut]

a new technology a torpedo that can follow vibrations just like the dolphins can

[@Azagoreth]

You serious or was this sarcasm? I really can't tell.. But if not, Torpedo's already do this, Acoustics in water is just vibration and that is exactly what passive sonar homing does.

[@WinterBornActual]

@@Azagoreth They've had torpedos doing that sinced WW2

[@ericclausen6772]

Make a missile that has multiple munitions inside once close to drone swarm the small munitions should go after different targets so the missiles get the small munitions close enough to keep going after drones

[@lupagonzales]

It is currently a phantasmagoria. It would be useful as a blinder or to destroy optical chips intended for guidance in the final stage of a missile or drone, but not to burn through a metal part at such a distance. 😀

[@tinfoiltruckerscap9613]

Nice to hear someone pronounce Arleigh Burke correctly.

[@tinfoiltruckerscap9613]

Although we don't say C-I-W-S, we say see-whizz.

[@cmoorer9771]

“Chinas numerical superiority “….😆

[@itsthatguyiam]

Yeah, I found that funny too. Perhaps he meant numerical superiority in hypersonic missiles? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@nickkoprivica9609]

Cannon fodder

[@OldSkoolF]

Need to get the rail guns in use.

[@scottmacdonald4854]

I hope that that Navy has all these directed energy systems PROTECTED or fortified against EMP pulse weapons.

[@jlalbee]

Guess what. Light is faster than any hypersonic missile.

[@hektorm2306]

You passed physics!

[@distar97]

@@jlalbee Guess What. You still need to keep it on target for some period of time, likely a few seconds. Then you have atmospheric issues you must compensate for. A Range will be limited but it’s still worth investigating.

[@NotSure-hd6sm]

I have one. I love it.

[@robdevilee8167]

Lasers are only part of the picture. They need radars to guide them, but I think those can be jammed. Also, it'll be difficult to hit a tiny target at a great distance, from a rolling ship, especially in bad weather. Is it possible to pin-point a small missile from a long distance? Flak solves this by spraying the air with a curtain of metal shards, but a laser cannot do that. It has to hit head-on. So...I've got my doubts, but I'd love to be disappointed. I hope it works and I think it's worth a try to see if it's possible.

[@thaidenthach9806]

how does the ship generate the energy for the laser?

[@Arc_Viper]

I'm going to be so disappointed if they don't add the "Pew Pew Pew" sound effects when the laser fires

[@davidmcnerney3048]

Just need blue ships to defeat lazers

[@mikewa2]

Lasers the weapons of the future. Here today!

[@JM800]

Have they solved the rain/fog diffraction issues?

[@jaredvf1976]

Given the threats we’re facing, they better hurry the f up.

[@wfjr997]

It’s about time I’m surprised you’re not way ahead of that already

[@jamesallen4747]

Of course they are. This is the declassified stuff

[@juliuscesar4176]

They should be 20-40 years of what we know now.

[@roboparks]

They don't work .

[@lazaruslaser]

YES

[@TManRB]

Navy ships should have the top of the line protection systems. Being the slow moving hulks that the are. Laser technology will have to do; till engineers develop perimeter shell technology.

[@lee20454]

300 KW Lasers already exist. And 600 KW and above are coming up soon.

[@charleswynn9920]

The US navy should add the battleship to the fleet to against the uav with its canons gunshot, cheap and effective

[@ghostbusters234]

Ahh yes the USA Laser General was one of my favorite!

[@alasdairwhyte6616]

love the dalek vibes 🤣

[@blxue_clouxds5346]

Does anyone know the name of the soundtrack?

[@askari4556]

I believe the development and distribution of hypersonic missles by China will require powerful lasers as a counter measure. That may require some form of nuclear power to service the weapon. So, I guess making these destroyers nuclear is a fairly easy jump. Having one or two helicopters for search and rescue or anti submarine missions, or marine/SEAL insertions would be fairly obvious. Is a 5 inch deck gun really useful? Why not make it 8 inch twin barrels. And maybe 4 torpedo tube's. I understand you guys have seemed to finally developed useful torpedoes. Good luck. I will save this note and see how well you take my suggestions to heart. Too bad about Zumwalt and your near shore interdiction patrol boat failures. Good idea terrible execution. Good work on FA-18EX HUGE improvement on airframe structure life, engine upgrades, armament load, and range extention. I really like your new Manta ray sub. GO NAVY.

[@PAUL-em4tj]

And Dolphins and Sharks with Lazar beams attached to their heads..🤔

[@johnreynolds7996]

Arleigh Burke destroyers can't mount lasers that can defeat a hypersonic missiles: they simply can't supply the electricity that would be required.

[@YeTao-i4v]

Learn about capacitors and duty cycle.

[@TairnKA]

The impression I get from this and similar videos is, the lasers lock to kill rate is too slow. It looked to take three or more seconds to destroy a target, it should take less than a second or other enemy attacks could get through.

[@slyktech1860]

They really need to add these lasers to a starlink sat or something to shoot down ICBMs that just entire its peak in space.

[@none-t8m]

So now other countries will launch their own starlink to shoot down other satellites that try to shoot down their ICBMs. In other words, MAD is still here but it gets complicated.

[@clinthowe7629]

they keep talking about Arleigh Burke class while showing pictures of Ticonderoga class ships.

[@1MTEK]

My two [unrealistic] cents: skips lasers and figure out how to build plasma weapons that require a fraction of time on target and can puncture the densest atmospheric conditions.

[@Gunni1972]

What will be the target for that test? USA has no own hypersonic missiles to use as target. And the placement of the system only allows to shoot targets, that come from the bow-in hemisphere. Pretty easy to avoid. especially in bad(cloudy/foggy) weather. Where drones can still fly circles around it, (no risk to lose someone) but lasers are suddenly reduced in range and applied power.

[@shaindaman13]

That is so badass. Im so proud of our US Navy. You’re WELCOME the rest of the world for ships like these that our tax dollars pay for to make sure your shit gets to your country. Our Navy has policed the oceans of the world since the Second World War and done and impeccable job of it too! God Bless America 🇺🇸

[@runnergo1398]

Your tax dollars didn't pay for this. The only thing your tax dollars pay for is stuff that happens locally. The federal government doesn't need your stinking tax dollars.

[@MichaelArrigo]

Mare Island Shipyard holds the record for building the destroyer USS Ward in 17½ days during World War I. The shipyard was closed but should be re-opened, and we need to have a mass production capability again, not a custom made one off mentality to building warships. The 17.5 days should shame everyone who is blowing time and budget. It is as if Congress itself is designing these ships by second guessing military goals and changing course and budget too often. Build something reliable that can be produced rapidly and with the mass production comes economies of scale and lower cost per ship. DDGX looks like an improvement but far from achieving the goal of a mass-produced ship, that is cost effective. We need to be able to replaces ships rapidly, not spend five years experimenting and not getting results.

[@EricSchafer-b1k]

Will the Navy step up ship based energy generation? Does that mean nuclear reactors on frigates? Maybe one to power the ship and another to power various simultaneous energy weapon operation. Coordination with submarine drones as China plans assiduously a d will adjust their threat vector. We need both high and low power beams. Low power close in and to counter drone swarms and high power to counter high speed missiles. Then we can use anti-air and anti-missile missles sparingly. These destroyers need to have long range launch surce suppression that acts very quickly to destroy the source of any attack.

[@JonathanForbes-u2y]

Make these platforms available around Alaska along with Heavy Icebreaker POLAR SECURITY CUTTERS

[@astoni314]

AI comment :'Fog and smoke significantly hinder the effectiveness of laser weapons by scattering, absorbing, and distorting the laser beam. While research is ongoing to mitigate these issues, they remain a significant challenge for the deployment of laser weapons in various operational environments'. Best to wait for windy weather before connecting up the batteries?

[@frankharrison217]

You realize that the Chinese Navy counts every fishing vessel as part of the Chinese Navy right

[@Gunni1972]

You do realize every one of them could launch Drones?

[@markbrisec3972]

I'm disappointed that the US Navy decided not to base their next generation of destroyers DDG(X) on the Zumwalt class.. Now that Zumwalt and it's sister ships, are being armed with 12 monster hypersonic missiles, in place of the failed Advanced gun system (AGS), Zumwalt class has turned into the best offensive naval platform in the world.. Unfortunately the lack of Aegis combat system prevents the Zumwalt from being the best all around naval ship in the world, but that could have been easily improved on the DDG(X). Zumwalt has that menacing cool looking tumblehome hull design and a peripheral VLS system, housing 80 potential missiles. These VLS cells are larger than the Mk 70 found on Arleigh Burke destroyers (but still not big enough for the hypersonic missiles that will be installed in place of AGS) making them perfect for future upgraded SM family of missiles that will be getting the larger rocket motors. And last but not least, Zumwalt has a hybrid engine system that is bristling with a huge amount of electric generating power capability. And more electricity is key for any future conflict... Next generation of Aegis radar, the SPY-6 and beyond, are gonna need a lot of juice.. Then there are the aforementioned lasers and microwave weapons and all the classified electronic warfare systems we know nothing about... Zumwalt platform has plenty of power to accomodate all these weapons and systems.. The best way forward would be to make the DDG(X) nuclear powered. This would solve all the energy needs, but this is unrealistic given the massive price of building and meintaining nuclear powered vessels. Maybe build 10 larger ships with displacement of around 20-25 000 tonnes, make them nuclear powered, call them cruisers CG(X) and attach one to each carrier battle group. The rest of the fleet could be the size of Zumwalt (around 15 000 tonnes) and be conventionally powered... Of course all this way pure and simple day dreaming.. US Navy already have huge programs in development that cost an incredible amount of money and are also of at most importance for the future of power projection and nuclear deterrence. First is the continuing of building the Ford class carriers, the next gen air dominance aircraft that will replace the F-18 SUper Hornets on the decks of 11 super carriers (NGAD) and the next gen nuclear ballistic missiles submarine (Columbia class) to replace the aging Ohio SSBNs. COlumbia class is the most important strategic weapons program of the US military, and can't be questioned, despite the enormous price increase. NGAD is also incredibly important cause without them the 150 billion$ Ford class carriers will become obsolete and irrelevant in 2040 and beyond... So in that context the DDG(X) doesn't seem as needed as someone thinks cause the soon to become operational Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyer, will bring a giant leap in capabilities to the surface combatants. Although Flight III looks almost identical to Flight II, it's anything but.. Most importantly Flight III will introduce the SPY-6 air and missile defense radar capable of simultanious air breathing and ballistic missile defense.

[@rauckr09]

High-powered lasers are long overdue!!

[@SS-ec2tu]

The Navy has weapons now that can take out all the PLA Navy in a couple days.

[@dahaixing2376]

where is the successful live testing result?

[@Jasho-Beam]

How can you shoot down a hypersonic misile that you will only see about one second before it blows you up?

[@nelsonortiz2768]

Drones will be the ultimate weapon

[@HitsInSandbox]

No as their are several counter measures already in the USA DARPA that are being implemented. Drones work against undeveloped countries with little resistance. But if your talking large high speed targeting Drones for bombing runs etc yes. But the bulk of drones in large numbers like Ukraine and Russia are using they can be compromised. Even some updates to the F35s can include some new advancements that will be able to make it imposable for drones to fly in certain zones/areas. (SPECTRUM CONTROLS)

[@GSGS-iz8bg]

And what to do with a laser weapon if the enemy (on the cheap) starts coating its projectiles in mirrors?

[@Fleshox19-uz3qt]

Well they won't go ballistic then. So that will be pretty useless if the mirrors can't survive the launch, let alone reach space and re-enter the atmosphere.

[@GSGS-iz8bg]

@@Fleshox19-uz3qt one can launch a mirror-coated entity, space travel it could endure without any problems, the problems would arise only at the fireball stage of re-entry.

[@PAUL-em4tj]

And what about China's sharks with lazar beams on their heads. 🤔

[@bradcraig5111]

​@@PAUL-em4tjRobotic nuclear tipped penguins......dooby-dooby-doo.

[@PAUL-em4tj]

@@bradcraig5111 👍Great idea. 🤔

[@Anthony-rj6is]

That admiral was smoking.

[@SASCOI]

What if the enemy uses reflective skin on the hypersonic missles?

[@randyyoung8930]

Can't get away from that unless...

[@iansaliba-curtis1041]

I've always been skeptical about using lasers as weapons of interdiction. The demonstrations they use always feature a - reasonably slow - target moving on a very predictable vector in perfect visibility. Almost by definition, this is a military contradiction in terms. Having seen the available power thresholds available on a beam weapon, however, I am slowly warming to high powered lasers as a potential concept with one small modification: In my opinion as a qualified physicist, they should be looking to increase the available energy and fire the weapon as a PULSE. If sufficient energy could be brought to bear on a target in one huge smack, I feel that there could well be a place for lasers as weapons of interdiction. Further, a pulse weapon would fair better in low visibility atmospheric conditions (as it would not scatter by the same percentage) and it has the advantage of bringing the weapon's maximum energy to one spot on the target all at once. That's my 5c worth.

[@meisterrama]

Wouldn't it have been better to keep this as quiet as possible instead of letting the world know.

[@HawkSea]

I have that engine in my Golf.