5 ms·
Lasers have vastly different external ballistics, meaning they are not impacted by wind, density altitude, and gravity as much as a bullet would be. This means
by DamnYuppie 9y ago
Lasers have vastly different external ballistics, meaning they are not impacted by wind, density altitude, and gravity as much as a bullet would be. This means they would have a greater range and accuracy.
Benefit of this, to a solider, is there is no difference in elevation between engaging a target at 20 meters out to say 700 meters. This will enable them to be far more effective in urban battle fields as they can engage targets far more quickly and effectively.
- lighthazard 9y agoThey need line of sight here, don't they? Or are they going to bounce weaponized lasers off mirrors in space?
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- DamnYuppie 9y agoSo from my understanding of urban warfare you would have direct line of sight of the target, and that distance can vary from very close to over a 1000 meters. It may sound like a long way, but in the grand scheme of things this is like looking down a few blocks, if you are on just the 2nd-4th floor of a building you will realize how far you can actually see.
- riku_iki 9y agoLasers in questions are for navy air defense, they will have line of sight.
- greedo 9y agoI know it's not fashionable to RTFA, but these aren't really intended for air defense, nor limited to air targets. They won't be much use against high speed aircraft... "HELIOS...is designed to track and destroy small, unmanned aerial vehicles or boats that approach a ship."
- riku_iki 9y agoSure, both boats and UAV will be within line of sight. What is your point in this discussion? What are you trying to add?
- greedo 9y agoYou stated incorrectly that these lasers were for air defense.
- riku_iki 9y agoSo, shooting down UAV is not air defense?
- greedo 9y agoOnly in the broadest of terms. Naval air defense doesn't worry too much about UAVs currently. Most UAVs that the USN is facing are small drones that aren't a serious threat. They're easily handled by Phalanx. When the USN talks about air defense, they're primarily talking about manned aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles. These are handled by Evolved Sea Sparrow and Standard missiles managed by AEGIS. Though these lasers are capable of downing small UAVs, they're really intended to counter small boat swarms (Boghammer type vessels) favored by Iran.
- giarc 9y agoAnd they are quieter. With stealth ships being built, if you start shooting drones out of the air you'll be heard pretty quickly.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]