Jul 31 2010
Raytheon Missile Systems, pioneer in defense technologies, has introduced a new, advanced infrared (IR) Laser Weapon System (LaWS) that has been specifically made to destroy airborne enemies.
Laser weapon system
The ship-based LaWS will be combined with the company’s Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) installations. The Phalanx, also known as R2-D2, is a Vulcan Gatling gun that can be used to destroy enemy missiles and aircrafts.
The Laser Weapon System features six 32 kW IR lasers that direct the fire on a specific target. In a video demonstration, the Laser Weapon System destroyed a test drone, which crashed into the ocean.
Firing lasers from ships is quite difficult because the ship is in constant motion and the water-vapor surrounding disperses the light. The company is presently testing the device and informed that the system will not be launched until 2016.
Source: http://www.raytheon.com