Can a Laser Really Shoot Down a Drone? Watch the US Navy's 30 Second Video!

In summary: Can anyone identify the major obstacles in such an effort.Yes. The test may have been of the "sitting duck" type in which the drone was particularly susceptible to damage by the laser. It may not be too difficult to "harden" missiles to laser attack, in which case, it would be reckless and wasteful to pursue further development of the laser weapon until such concerns are addressed and dealt with. Of course, such information will be classified, meaning that we have to trust our weapons-developers, military overseers, etc to be honest with us and tell us if the system has serious weaknesses.
  • #1
Naty1
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So the US Navy has shot down a drone with a Laser... 30 second video is here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20011041-501465.html

Can anyone identify the major obstacles in such an effort. Seems like tracking/radar type software would be very similar to conventional weapons...conventional weapons shells go through clouds, rain, fog,snow and so forth..how about laser beams??
 
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  • #3
Naty1 said:
Can anyone identify the major obstacles in such an effort
Big, no problem fitting one to a ship but pretty useless otherwise.
Uses lots of power and/or some very unpleasant chemicals

You can destroy a drone with a well aimed half-brick.

Impressive would be hitting a sea-skimming missile at mach3, 10m above the water in the fraction of a second between it coming over the horizon and hitting you.
 
  • #4
Naty1 said:
Can anyone identify the major obstacles in such an effort.
Yes. The test may have been of the "sitting duck" type in which the drone was particularly susceptible to damage by the laser. It may not be too difficult to "harden" missiles to laser attack, in which case, it would be reckless and wasteful to pursue further development of the laser weapon until such concerns are addressed and dealt with. Of course, such information will be classified, meaning that we have to trust our weapons-developers, military overseers, etc to be honest with us and tell us if the system has serious weaknesses. Any takers on that bet?
 
  • #5
Naty1 said:
So the US Navy has shot down a drone with a Laser... 30 second video is here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20011041-501465.html

Can anyone identify the major obstacles in such an effort. Seems like tracking/radar type software would be very similar to conventional weapons...conventional weapons shells go through clouds, rain, fog,snow and so forth..how about laser beams??

I worked on two similar systems three lifetimes ago; my information may not be up to date. I worked on the ABL (Boeing) and MTHEL (joint US/Isreali) systems:

http://www.thelivingmoon.com/45jack_files/03files/MTHEL_Mobile_Tactical_High_Energy_Laser.html

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/abl/index.html [Broken]

Both of those lasers were near-IR chemical lasers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_oxygen_iodine_laser

Out of the numerous technical issues, there were two main classes I worked on: beam shaping/aiming (the lenses and mirrors and tracking movements) and propagation effects (transmission, atmospheric scattering, etc).

Obviously, the main difference is the time to target- that made the tracking easier. The atmospheric scattering placed severe requirements on the optical corrections and initial pulse energy, and how 'pristine' the pulse had to be when it left the 'gun' in order to put sufficient power onto the target.

Then of course, there's countermeasures- just make your missile highly reflective, like I dunno... *unpainted metal*?
 
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  • #6
The ABL still has some issues, like it needs a 747 to carry it around in, it's run by a chemical laser that redefines HAZMAT (one rumor is that the 747 isn't allowed back into California - it breaks so many OSHA rules).

It was also designed to hit an ICBM just after launch = nice thin metal tubes highly pressurized with explosive fuel and moving in a nice well defined parabolic path.

This thing is intended to defeat the Russian Sizzler sea-skimming missile which is doing Mach3 at 10m above the waves. Even if you hit the thing you have to totally vaporise it or you simply exchange being hit by a missile for being hit by a mach3 lump of metal + explosive + solid rocket propellant!
 

1. What is a laser shoot down drone?

A laser shoot down drone is a technology that uses lasers to disable or destroy drones. It works by targeting the drone's electronics or physical structure, causing it to malfunction or crash.

2. How does a laser shoot down drone work?

A laser shoot down drone uses a high-powered laser beam to heat up and damage the drone's components, such as its motors, sensors, or communication systems. This disrupts the drone's ability to fly and control its movements, causing it to crash or become inoperable.

3. Is using a laser to shoot down drones safe?

When used by trained professionals, using a laser to shoot down drones is generally considered safe. However, precautions must be taken to ensure that the laser does not accidentally target people or other objects in the surrounding area.

4. What are the advantages of using a laser shoot down drone?

Using a laser to shoot down drones has several advantages over other methods, such as using firearms or physical interceptors. It is a precise and targeted approach, minimizing collateral damage and reducing the risk of injury to bystanders. It is also a cost-effective solution, as the laser can be used multiple times without needing to be reloaded.

5. Are there any limitations to using a laser shoot down drone?

While using a laser to shoot down drones can be effective, there are some limitations to consider. The range of the laser is limited, so it may not be able to target drones that are too far away. Additionally, certain weather conditions, such as fog or rain, can affect the accuracy and effectiveness of the laser.

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