Why The Pentagon Is Spending Billions To Bring Laser Weapons To The Battlefield

[@lashlarue7924]

"Mr. Powers, you'll notice that all the sharks have laser beams attached to their heads..." - Dr. Evil

[@kendallevans4079]

Retired for 2 years so not sure what's been going on in the industry but I was in it for 43 years, mostly Hughes Aircraft. Worked on several projects including the Abrams M1 tank rangefinder, TOW missile and lots of lab research. One thing that was a great challenge in almost anything "laser" is the fragility of the design and build. It's not just that optics, in general, are delicate but you are focusing down to the nth degree over distance, great distance. ANY movement on the proximal (near) end and you've completely lost your target.

[@jimv77]

Our site worked on the Air Force/Boeing Airborne Laser program....and the equipment taking up the whole 747 cargo area sounded insane.....to be ready and takeoff in time. Or to loitering constantly.....seemed unrealistic for a DoD budget.

[@13cr1987]

CNBC might have received money from Raytheon and the military Industrial Complex for the broadcast.

[@kendallevans4079]

@@13cr1987 Wouldn't surprise me! The Military/Industrial Complex,the same one Ike warned us about, is so ingrained into the American economic GNP this country would crumble without it!

[@doujinflip]

Military lasers are focusing on low altitude drones and vehicle/aircraft sensors, which are just as fragile but as dangerous as a full artillery barrage if left without any response.

[@joelkroodsma3257]

@@13cr1987 "Sponsored content"

[@dansands8140]

Something interesting I heard recently is that lasers have been improving in efficiency and size roughly in line with Moore's law, just like computer chips. Explains why they were a dumb fantasy 20 years ago and are completely workable now.

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

It's pretty telling that they aren't talking about free electron lasers anymore.

[@anatitan5546]

And they cannot use it on Sam Bankman Fried.😢

[@kendallevans4079]

Laser diodes and some solid state, mostly. They are almost just another electronic component. Gas lasers (CO2) and crystal (Nd:YAG/Alexandrite etc...) are still magic.

[@blink182bfsftw]

​@@hypothalapotamus5293tell us more

[@JollyRed0045]

If you're hearing about it now they've been using it for decades already.

[@marsspacex6065]

Laser communication in space is also the future. Starlink has already deployed thousands of laser optimal devices and the DOD is following them in their new constellation.

[@JC-fy8wh]

Lols you are a fool to think the DOD doesn't have something better

[@hwamplerhwamplero5257]

The new Psyche mission from NASA is also testing interplanetary laser communications!

[@JinKee]

Focus all the coms lasers in the constellation on a single target

[@Redmanticore]

Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) , TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) , HICALI (High-speed Communication with Advanced Laser Instrument)

[@bulletghost3452]

There is also the very experimental quantum entanglement which can have instant communications with any entangled qubits of data. However, it deals with quantum mechanics so it still has lots of caveats on what techniques can be used for reading entangled data.

[@celtekrider2]

I've seen this weapon testing in the skies behind Las Vegas. Tis very scary!

[@ToddHines-gn7cf]

This is what hit Maui and Texas and California. The future is not human. This is the not so Great Reset

[@bread8176]

😂

[@Based_n_Boredpilled]

Frickin' lasers on sharks!

[@Jacke7111]

Make peace not war.

[@GoldilocksAI]

Why did I envision the Dr. Evil "Laser" meme? lol

[@ihateemael]

thx for shedding light on this bright topic.

[@mrbaab5932]

They are Infrared lasers, so they don't appear visibly bright.

[@maximecj5095]

It’s sad to see it can be exciting but how unfortunate would it be for those on whom it will be used 😪

[@trumanhw]

I doubt it's hard to add reflective coatings that negate (reflect) 80-90% of lased-energy.

[@satanicmicrochipv5656]

When I was deployed it was essentially a one sided slaughter with the enemy on the losing side. They had no business being on the same battlefield against professional soldiers with top of the line kit. Sucked for them. They f*cked around and found out.

[@gang3576]

@@satanicmicrochipv5656ur just a pawn😂 u don't even know why u went to war! U got rich people richer and guess what? There kids don't have to sign up to fight ever! They got sheep like you. U went to war for 20 years, 2 trillion wasted and now the taliban are back in power with billion dollar weapon left over and stronger then ever, other countries like China helping them develop there Army, they have missiles and actual airforce now. So my question to you is, what was the point those 3500 service man had to die?? There kids are with out fathers while the ppl who sent you living there best life😂🤦‍♂️ how can you be this asleep dude?

[@cryora]

​@@trumanhwBut what if they up the laser energy by 10x. Can you then add coating the reflects 99%? 99.9%? Or would there be a limit, whereas with lasers there isn't?

[@orue5499]

@@trumanhw reflective coatings dont really help much, as it eventually becomes less reflective due to the laser and then stops reflecting alltogether and stops working

[@alanmc1846]

It never fails to amaze me the amount of science fiction that actually comes true 😂

[@GSorinYT]

Always driven by military

[@LieMac]

Every science fiction concept is possible, unless its fantasy.

[@wizzzer1337]

lasers might cost billions to develop, but they are so cheap to operate to the point where the military industrial complex are disincentivized from commiting to them. they are a threat to missile production lines, the lifeblood of companies like Raytheon, they wouldn't allow it

[@mqb3gofjzkko7nzx38]

High powered lasers are not cheap to operate. Just ask the National Ignition Facility.

[@Redmanticore]

i think you are correct on cheap drone development-wise. its the little guys that developed the cheap flying drone-bombs first, not worlds biggest usa firms.

[@mrbaab5932]

USA and most countries don't fight itself with its own weapons.

[@FaceFcuk]

​@mqb3gofjzkko7nzx38 yes they are 😂 it costs us in the uk 🇬🇧 10 pound every time to use it FACTS😂

[@mirnarodrigues5982]

Umm 🤔 DEWs, being tested in a neighborhood near you, California, Lahaina,…now in Texas 🔥

[@SpruceMoose-iv8un]

Has something to do with 10,000 cheap drones that cost $300 each carrying a pound of C4 flying towards your front line. Right now theirs no way to stop it unless you maybe have a CWIS but it would run out of ammo before the drones devastate your front line. Having over 100 vehicles with mounted lasers for air defense is needed in the 21st century war.

[@ryansauchuk7290]

Or you know cheap anti air guns paired with good tracking radars

[@SpruceMoose-iv8un]

@@ryansauchuk7290 CWIS fires the way it does because wind plays a factor, it throws off bullets, now imagine the drones swerving side to side, how do you hit something like that, that is not a laser.

[@Some0ne001]

They have anti drone microwave weapons that fry the electronics. Small drones aren't really an issue, they also have gun jammers that can hack the signal drones use to take over control of a small drone, police even have them now.

[@mateusb09]

Bullets are cheaper than drones. You don't need a 10.000 RPM gun like CWIS to take down a swarm of slow flying drones. For example, you could buy 7 or 8 gepards with the price of a single CRAM (and this could become even better since you don't necessarily need the armored protection of gepards to take down these drones) At the end of the day all you need to have is a radar-guided machine gun Lasers need to spend some time focusing energy on a single target until it reaches the destroyal point. Good luck trying take down a swarm of drones with a single-target laser

[@douglassauvageau7262]

The High Power Microwave concepts merit feasibility testing.

[@phx4closureman]

3:03 *yeah right!!! we'll see how long THAT LASTS!!!*

[@dvxAznxvb]

Nice to know lasers are illegal to use against personnel while rockets and ballistics are fair game; was worried they weren't gonna make the cut Would of been boring to be back to sticks and stones

[@tobene]

Probably because they can be used to cause permanent blindness.

[@Redmanticore]

@@tobene it isnt 100% logical. like the thermobaric bomb things that splurt your eyes out of your sockets, brains out of your holes, are even worse and its allowed.

[@EDuBz510]

​@@tobeneif it can burn up missiles, I'm sure it can do more than blind humans

[@tobene]

@@EDuBz510 Yeah sounds weird but that's probably the reason why laser weapons are illegal. It causes unnecessary suffering. Tear gas is also illegal for combat but legal for riot control since its a chemical weapon.

[@AnitaLau-s5z]

The era of the war lions and war elephants would’ve been kinda cool At least the aesthetic is

[@rainkloud]

Some things to consider are: Repair time, parts availability, skill needed for repairs, how much time before repairs are needed, durability against attack, skill needed for operation.

[@nickthompson1812]

There’s no way to vote against this. The military industrial complex will not allow this to cease.

[@謬]

If only voting mattered.

[@mrbaab5932]

Obama, Clinton and Biden funded this work.

[@osmo1205]

3:40 i just wanted to point out that i love the cheese poster, goddamn

[@samadams7573]

DEWs also have other wonderful applications... such as creating very precise "wildfires."

[@mariahbay]

And causing 3rd degree burns on human subjects

[@arthurfidas7254]

I don’t care about how effective these things will be in war. I’m just excited to see how this technology can be used for space exploration and travel

[@brycemedvin8765]

Too bad then. That'll probably be the third or fourth set of applications...

[@fanamlawuli6761]

Really don't care about space

[@sim6057138]

What space

[@mrobocop1666]

@@sim6057138 Cosmos, nore accurate term

[@wemakecookie]

What relation does this laser technology have with space exploration? Is anybody seriously using lasers in space exploration or planning to?

[@zvosburg0991]

Field tested in Maui.

[@ronkirk5099]

With the development of hypersonic missiles, the next step in the arms race seems to be light speed weapons like high energy lasers to counter the threat.

[@ExarchGaming]

Hypersonic weapons have been around since the 40s. The V-2 rocket was hypersonic, all ballistic missiles are hypersonic. Infact, the biggest paper tiger in the world the "Kihnzal" missile that Russia uses, is just a updated air launched SCUD missile.(Iskander) Which is why patriot took it down so easily, it's what patriot was designed to counter.

[@Redmanticore]

hypersonic 5-10 mach high-hypersonic 10-25 mach re-entry speeds >=25 mach directed-energy weapons such as lasers may operate at higher speeds but are considered a different class of weaponry.

[@jonathanpfeffer3716]

DEWs are absolutely not capable of or meant for dealing with hypersonics, the fundamental dynamics involved prohibit that. HCMs/BGVs will have massive thermal shielding in the front and will leave very very little time for the DEW to engage it, as they are line of sight only. DEWs are for low end saturation threats, with high performance missile interceptors being held in reserve for the high end hypersonic threats.

[@darkmatter1152]

Laser: 186,000 MPS or Mach 874, 050

[@sueyourself5413]

You'd think that it'd be peace. Peace would be the next step. Instead of playing around with missiles as if it's a video game.

[@playframe6231]

lasers can be scaled incredibly well. one laser doesnt need to be very powerfulm if you have hundreds of them.

[@OM-PeaceE]

Eye for an eye makes the whole world blind- Gandhi .. Give Dialogue & Peace a Chance

[@謬]

Peace doesnt create jobs and definitely doesnt assist with laundering tax dollars.

[@LordLotman]

When they releasing “Sharks with Freakin Lazers Beams on their heads”

[@謬]

Bears being released already. 😮

[@iancameron8391]

I see a lot of “coat the missile with mirrors” comments. This is a solution to the laser problem, but it adds a whole host of other problems, like increased visibility, reduced durability, things like that. Think about it, if the solution to radiation heating was mirrors, why wouldn’t the bottoms of nuclear bombers be plastered in mirrors to reflect the heat away?Why wouldn’t space shuttles be plastered in mirrors to reflect the solar radiation away? Its not as smart a solution as you’d think it would be.

[@moonasha]

the mirror would have to reflect the laser's wavelength too. A bathroom mirror ain't gonna reflect a military laser. And even if it could, it would still burn the reflective coating off almost immediately, think about how easy it is to scratch a mirror. Ablatives are the true counter to lasers, but they still have their own host of issues.

[@iancameron8391]

@@moonasha yes. My argument glossed over that since it is a little technical. I find it works better to use simpler, less technical arguments like “its bad design ethos” to convince people rather than highly technical arguments that people might not understand. If i was arguing for the point that the earth was round, i wouldn’t use the damning evidence that a gyrocompass works, i would use the simple fact of the horizon.

[@OComunaMaisFraco]

Tá comparando uma blindagem militar com um espelho de mercado amigo?

[@joealagjr.5975]

if it were me ill target it indirectly by targeting the surrounding space, Japan already had that kind system that use multiple laser and intersect its line of sight, and also you can incorporate Electron Gun by ioning the air with laser.

[@ExileXCross]

"just add mirrors" comments are people who don't know physics let alone lasers. There isn't such a thing as a perfect mirror, there are always imperfections and those imperfections will absorb energy, heating up and disturbind surrounding atoms creating more imperfections. Process repeats until the mirror finish is destroyed this all happens in a fraction of a second.

[@videre8884]

Where do the kilowatts come from that are needed for these lasers?

[@dc2guy2]

Man the future is so cool! It's so amazing how advanced the tech is while millions are starving, lack adequate shelter, have no affordable options for healthcare... and that's just in America ..so cool! Thank you Uncle Sam and God Bless America!!

[@billyjoejimbob848]

Freedomm🦅

[@seyijames7439]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@ToothlesstheNightFury510]

I bought another share of rtx cuz of this comment

[@billyjoejimbob848]

@@user-ps9lo2rm6y free from what exactly lol

[@Phrancis5]

This argument comes up every time new technology is profiled and you typed that comment and instantly shared it to the world via the internet - a once expensive and wasteful DOD project. Tech progress takes research money and we don't always know how that tech might benefit the world in countless ways.

[@kjtilka]

For all of the nay sayers, on lasers. Freedom is not cheap, there is a cost to it in lives, and to the security of the people of America.

[@mmoarchives2542]

there also needs to be systems that can detect when high heat build up is happening on hulls, once the word gets out how effective laser microwaves are against missiles and aircraft, it'll be a race for nations to get their own lasers, or perhaps design a heat absorbing hull layer

[@Gripmagic]

Optically reflective layer, laser defeated

[@ekothesilent9456]

@@Gripmagicuse a frequency of light that when reflected scatters into high density radio waves rendering the smart missile dumb. Reflective layer defeated. War is just a never ending cycle of countermeasures

[@jurajsintaj6644]

@@Gripmagic But is that resistant to heat from other sources? How does it interact with radar? How durable would the coating be ?

[@TheyCanceledhim]

Targeted Justice Lawsuit.

[@BauldyBoys]

Man that guy really didn't want to say using lasers on people is a war crime did he?

[@mrbaab5932]

Most of these lasers target unmanned system like drones, missiles, rockets, artillery rounds and mortar rounds.

[@cryora]

​@@mrbaab5932But can they be used to target other things? And what threat would they pose if they did? Can they shoot down airliners for example?

[@herrwarmduscher5204]

"Lasers" - Dr. Evil

[@NamNguyenVinh]

Finally, it's time to bring C&C Generals to life

[@vincelycaner4259]

There you go, general. I've drawn the line in the sand. Now I DARE you to cross it! Come and get me, general! ---General "Pinpoint" Townes

[@donaldihnio111]

This may be a stupid question, but what if drones etc... installed mirrors as a deterrent, would this reflect the lasers onto infrastructure/personnel being uncontrollable and dangerous?

[@conusx]

it goes through the mirrors

[@adamsmith9701]

I imagine the future seeing satellite lasers destroying any target they like from space, like we have seen in movies/cartoons. Second thought: If that would work effectively, all the satellites could just shoot each other. It wouldn't work.

[@peterkwolek2265]

As lasers become more effective, I imagine we'll start to see attempts at reflective or absorbent material to shield equipment/satellites.

[@mrobocop1666]

@@peterkwolek2265 no doubt, if sword appears, then instantly shield appear as well

[@wemakecookie]

I don't think the technology is there for this to happen for at least some decades. You'd need an extraordinarily powerful laser to travel that distance from space to earth, while also cutting through the atmosphere. You'd also need to find a way to supply equally extraordinary amounts of power to feed the laser all the way up in space. It does seem they'll start to "solve" these lasers for on-earth use in the coming years though. The key advantage of lasers is they can instantly hit and track a target while at much lower cost than projectiles.

[@sullivanlucier-benson9020]

Pretty sure we have footage of UAPs shooting each other with laser weapons.

[@Zenithx3]

I understand defending one's self, but saddened that we use such technology for destruction instead of construction. I know not with weapons WW3 will be fought with, but WW4 will be fought with sticks and stones. -Einstein

[@Zenithx3]

Agreed. @@CheapSushi

[@kendallevans4079]

I've been a laser engineer since the before inception of the medical laser. The last 28 years I've worked on green light lasers for prostate reduction. Before the laser doctors used a TURP procedure. The difference is almost caveman to Jetson's! IMO photonic medicine is right up there with ANY modern achievement.

[@Zenithx3]

Agreed. Thank you for the information. Decided to look this up since I am an MD in pathology. Interesting info!@@kendallevans4079

[@Gripmagic]

*pulls mirror out of pocket*

[@Opalsdad]

We’ve actually seen a taste of what’s to come as far as drones. Our ships are navy should be very concerned about floating bombs that don’t need anybody on them to hit their targets….. and the new wave of terrorist threats heading our way…

[@JohnnyMotel99]

Floating bombs? As in mines?

[@BendsSpace]

@@JohnnyMotel99 I think they mean boat drones. Unlike flying drones, boat drones can go long distances with significantly lower power usage. They can also be made arbitrarily large, giving them basically unlimited range.

[@wouter7165]

People: Spend vast amounts of money on lasers. Laser: Just want to win the Wall-E lookalike competition.

[@jukio02]

Lasers are only good for defense. The reason is because it can only be shot in a straight line, it cannot curve like missiles.

[@Almighty_Mage]

Use satellites

[@KenjiEspresso]

Or use drugs

[@joealagjr.5975]

you just lacking ang imagination and creativity, there are already "GIANT composite chemical laser system". and in my theory Laser can be bended by photo ionization of air and the use of electron gun. theres so many ways of how to ustilize lasers and mirror can be distroyed by heating the air creating plasma buy using intersecting laser line of fire of multiple laser system, JAPAN already done that.

[@謬]

​@@Almighty_MageHawaii knows all too well about satellite lazers. 🫣

[@dxd42]

Pentagon Audit fails 3,5 trillion in missing assets 😂

[@RandomInternetDude5000]

People in the west wondering about energy shortage and high prices. There you go.

[@dimagass7801]

Spending billions on lasers but avoiding paying billions for the damage they caused in Hawaii 🤨

[@christianshauntvideos6728]

Literally by direct energy weapons!

[@Rext-s9g]

They used it to start wild fires .

[@Tallacus]

You do know in the Expanse they still use gattling guns as point defense systems no more different then what they have with CRAM today and this is when fusion drive is perfected, even in Halo they still use coil guns for point defense

[@kevintan5497]

why are you referencing video games for real life

[@Phrancis5]

I'm sure it's the future of taking out hypersonic and multiple cheap targets, but keeping that beam focused long enough is a challenge. That hovering DJI Mavic at the beginning is nothing like a cruise missile.

[@marccracchiolo4935]

That’s why the power rating of these weapons has to scale up by at least a factor of 10. You want that beam to be able to deliver damage in milliseconds not minutes or you become the target

[@davidradtke160]

Hypersonics with lasers is probably not an option. They move to fast for the focus, and have to be heavily shielded from heat due to their speed. Slow cheap drones is going to be the biggest use case for a long time.

[@ryansauchuk7290]

If it's the Russian hypersonic patriot already has it covered

[@krisboogy]

The DoD has never passed an audit

[@anonymous5405]

I imagine death by laser is very painful

[@Alectrizo]

This is how you beat all of these. Mirrors.

[@alexCh-ln2gw]

Sounds like there could be some easy countermeasures for lasers. Such as launching "pre missiles" that change the quality of the air around the target before launching the main missiles. You can probably even launch glitter confetti missiles. Essentially throwing sand in the "eyes" of the laser. A very cheap countermeasure for probably a very very expensive, not so effective laser defense system.

[@jensenraylight8011]

well, because there are fewer wars in the modern time, they realized that the only way to make more money nowadays is through making an overpriced overengineered product for tech illiterate leader just like how istrael $48 Million/shot state of the art defense could be bypassed by firing a dirt cheap $600 rocket, spam it 7000 times they care about being ashamed of cheap efficient weapon more than they want to actually defend their own country

[@Zerospacedude]

Just make the missiles chrome; chrome works in the movies

[@Cryosxify]

what? how does any of that keep up with the hypersonic missile?

[@bigt6665]

@@Cryosxify what hypersonic missile will be hitting vehicles on the front line... add on the fact the russian hypersonic missiles have been HEAVILY overhyped from being inaccurate to being intercepted frequently

[@cedriceric9730]

Lasers are dirt cheap too

[@zacharylortie2786]

Stormtroopers?

[@shawnsanders2182]

What people don't realize, besides the billions of old equipment we are giving away. they are spending Billions more or trillions more on new technology.

[@mrbaab5932]

New equipment is a small part of USA defense budget. Maybe you can get the world to stop fighting.

[@mrbaab5932]

New equipment is a small part of USA defense budget. Maybe you can get the world to stop fighting.

[@shawnsanders2182]

@@mrbaab5932 yes,the sad part is,it's out our hands and the innocent people suffer.

[@vanfja]

Great for ships and areas with high ground. But flat forested areas have a line of sight problem.

[@npc2480]

Imagine what would happen if another country spent as much as we do on defense?

[@Eric-xh9ee]

You mean like the Soviet Union leading to exploring the moon?

[@georg1875]

don't imagine! look at china, they are close when you adjust for purchasing power parity and factor in their hidden r&d expenses

[@ms3862]

China spends more than the US on its military already

[@cbcluckyii4042]

The USA will just quintuple their current defense budget to stay ahead so long as the top 5% are willing to fund it. There won't be enough income to tax from the middle class to fund the increase needed. Perhaps make new immigrants work for free. The latter will be more feasible to make a reality by Congress

[@thatguyoverthere8355]

Or protected by 2 oceans and 11 aircraft carriers

[@GaryCooper-wf4zr]

This explains that hawaii fire....

[@notsosuavemate]

Definitely

[@piggybaggy242]

Usa, our father, do whatever need to do to protect us from China!

[@Punisher6791]

lol , you can use the lasers against rockets and planes but pointing it directly at the enemies eyes is illegal!

[@Playingwithproxies]

Yeah there are rules. Causing permanent blindness to enemies is illegal.

[@alexCh-ln2gw]

i wonder if laser sights are illegal in the military.

[@DamienBeatzYT]

same laser that took out hawaii

[@lastChang]

It takes punishment to change the Chinese🇨🇳 regime's behavior. Diplomacy won't.

[@interesado2805]

You know whats more powerful? Peace love = 0 cost

[@martinc.720]

A better question is "Why does the Pentagon spend so much on things that go 'Boom' while millions of people are starving and/or homeless?"

[@MAR_10-x5w]

Think again

[@stephenziga2319]

If you are homeless in the US, you can always find help.

[@wendelleddiebrewerlll]

@@stephenziga2319no you can’t stop the cap

[@wendelleddiebrewerlll]

Well look at the history of the people that’s running it ……

[@konigstiger3252]

​@@wendelleddiebrewerlllGod help those who help themsleves. Stop blaming everyone around you for your own failling

[@Jr-nd9kd]

So that's where our tax dollars go to

[@jamesparker1071]

DEW's, Directed Energy Weapons, have been around for years. They can do some wicked stuff.

[@Ekam-Sat]

"I fear the day when the technology overlaps with our humanity.” - Albert Einstein

[@techcafe0]

I think technology has already overtaken our humanity.

[@Ekam-Sat]

I certainly hope not. Bless you brother and have a good Thanksgiving. @@techcafe0

[@KRIPSYNODUTS]

$2 only? Go for it and It’s a very good deal , you can’t even get a sandwich from McDonald’s for $2 these days.

[@alexCh-ln2gw]

That's the marketing that Israel is trying to sell the USA in order to funnel more money to that corrupt country for "military research while embezzling the funding" money.

[@謬]

Thats because your govt keeps spending hundreds of millions per weapon. Its a giant circle of inflation. Just remember, they can default every year. You cant. 😀

[@UltraBoogie]

Did anyone else play Missle Command when they were a kid? Your skils may be needed.

[@GarBage-bw1ng]

Maybe they can develop a tool to help them not destroy buildings in New York when they "lose" money

[@bigfoottoo2841]

Just give drones a reflective surface.

[@robert-wr9xt]

Great insights toward our future.

[@codpiecemcduff3421]

Look what they did to maui

[@Jordan-hz1wr]

War should not have any future.

[@notsosuavemate]

Exactly it’s counter intuitive

[@stevenjohns-savage7024]

Bring it on buddy 😊

[@itsd34n0]

I see mirrors and prisms being the next defence.. just saaying

[@alpacaofthemountain8760]

Excited to see where this goes

[@GaryCooper-wf4zr]

We won't forget the wild fire in Hawaii. It all makes sense now.

[@fourpointzero8315]

With almost $1 Trillion military budget each year. What could the U.S have developed this long period since they discovered several modern weapons

[@hammodii]

how about you make the surface reflective?? and deflect the laser beam?

[@ironboy3245]

Now all we need is for general motors to make the first fusion engine and we'll know we're in the Battletech timeline

[@fringeminority3224]

Maui knows all about these. Same with all the forest fires going on around the world.

[@mrbaab5932]

Maui fire was just like most California fires, trees fall on power lines then the broken lines spark starting fires on dry grass, bushes and trees.

[@MrNintoku]

What will be scary is when it becomes powerful and combat enough to be used in a heavy weapons team cause you know then that it's only a matter of time before small arms become lasers too.

[@AlienPuppetShow]

Enemy *Holds up giant mirror.

[@LotusPleiades]

#ActiveDenialSystem

[@iqbalmu]

You can use Laser blocking polycarbonate, silver, reflective mirrors, starlite polymer coating can be used to combat laser weapons

[@mrbaab5932]

Wrong, commercial lasers have been cutting thru silver, aluminum and gold since the early 1990's. There are non linear and penetration effects of IR lasers that burn off coating in the first second. That stuff has been tested decades ago.

[@georgieippolito9924]

I see a robot face smiling with 1 green eye 1 red eye, a stylish moustache, 2 moles and a green freckle

[@michaeldowson6988]

What made them take this route, rather than that Cuban anti-personnel brain-wave device?

[@palmshoot]

I think Protocol III prohibits this, but it should technically feasible to just aim a laser at some dry grass to start a weaponized wildfire. When AI can create fires faster than humans can react, things get quite dark.

[@mrbaab5932]

It is not like AI can run away from fires yet.

[@palmshoot]

@@mrbaab5932 Oh, but it can. Your smoke detector is a machine that can detect smoke. FLIR cameras can quantify thermal signatures.

[@petef.4361]

One thing that has made me wonder about laser weapons on satellites, would it be technically possible to put a laser powerful enough on a satellite that you could lock onto someone on the ground, fire it at them, and they drop dead from the laser blast? Or is that not possible? They wouldn't even know what hit them, or where it came from.

[@nietkees6906]

Lasers lose power the longer they travel. So the answer is no.

[@CanTho2022]

They tried this in Paradise, California and Lahaina, Hawaiia….so yeah…

[@JamesCanavan-wl5ev]

Instead of just destroying manmade objects, I hope that lasers will be developed sufficiently to a point where they can be used to intercept potential threats from space like asteroids.

[@desmond-hawkins]

This is called asteroid laser ablation, and there's actual research on this. The main issue is that it would need huge amounts of power for a very long time to be effective, on the order of 1 to 10 years of illumination - see the research paper titled "Directed Energy Planetary Defense" by UCSB researchers for details, or look up "DE-STAR". A much more practical solution is to smash a spacecraft into the asteroid to deflect it, something that was demonstrated with great success by NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission last year.

[@lilblackduc7312]

That would take one helluva lot of energy to make it work.

[@joeiborowski9763]

@@lilblackduc7312 It would be used way ahead of time predicitng the collision date and coordinates in order to deflect the space debris , not necessarily to intercept it.

[@feetycool3884]

these animations are crazy

[@kris8165]

They can't make one functional hypersonic missile, good luck with lasers 😂

[@daviddenton1934]

“The earth is the center of the universe” “You cant make a man fly” “The internet is a fad” People like you don't get far.

[@jackfenton2271]

Billions of TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

[@謬]

Hundreds of billions.

[@sgreenoak]

Technology certainly is moving so fast. Great investment through power and tech.

[@xxytxx]

How do you do all these interviews and read all this background in which every single source calls these "directED energy weapons" and then produce a video for millions of subscribers in which you say throughout, and in its description, "direct energy weapons"?

[@jackcorsica8405]

healthcare please

[@samsonsoturian6013]

Shut up. Get drafted

[@alexCh-ln2gw]

This is just israel stealing money from the USA under the guise of military research spending.

[@ArabicReja973]

China started an *arms race* in the entire Indo-Pacific region. - It must be careful what it wishes for.