Well this could be fun. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A ship-based laser tested by the Navy's research arm could put the heat on Somali pirates. The Navy for the first time last week successfully tested a solid-state high-energy laser from a ship. The beam, which was aimed at a boat moving through turbulent Pacific Ocean waters, set the target's engine on fire. Far be it from me to point out that if we decide that we want to set the engines of pirate boats on fire or disable or destroy them, we already have dozens of weapons systems that do that. It is the call to go kinetic that has seemed to be the disconnect in our strategy. They claim some other advantages to this laser thingie. "You can use the laser to ward off an attack, or you can dial it down to a non-lethal level where it basically becomes a very bright light so they know they are being targeted," Michael Deitchman, the director of air warfare and weapons at the Office of Naval Research, said Wednesday. Deitchman said the laser provides two benefits not seen in other military weapons. The laser is precise, unlike bullets that can ricochet and hit unintended targets, and the laser's strength can be dialed down from a lethal level to a nuisance level. Now they do say this thing can reach out miles, but so can many of the naval guns. And the warning shot is a long established "I wouldn't do that if I were you" which current systems also do. And if we happen to be a hair off with the warning shots, well who gives a crap we fed the sharks some pirates. The coolness factor of this is certain, but the need is not for coolness it is for someone in the command authority to find the cojones to say "weapons free".
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Posted
Apr 14 2011, 06:13 AM
by
BLACKFIVE