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Power efficiency makes lasers in fighters problematic. The current cutting edge lasers have 35 percent efficiency. If you heat the target with 100 kW power, th
by naval-gazer 7y ago
Power efficiency makes lasers in fighters problematic. The current cutting edge lasers have 35 percent efficiency. If you heat the target with 100 kW power, the fighter absorbs 300 kW of heat. You can use fuel to absorb the heat but heat exchangers adds lots of weight and extra complications.
- Symmetry 7y agoI'd tend to assume that the airflow a fighter has to work with would help a lot with managing the heat it deals with.
- nradov 7y agoHeat exchangers are problematic due to increased drag and radar observability.
- hindsightbias 7y agoThe F-35 cools avionics by running lines through the fuel tanks and already has had thermal issues. Removing the heat of a ~50-100kw laser via a heat exchanger onto surface airflow is going to make a nice heat signature/target.