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US military spending $500M on 'war-ready' laser weapons: experts
New York Post • • business
Key Points:
- The US military is actively deploying advanced laser weapons in the Strait of Hormuz to disable drones and incoming cruise missiles, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional kinetic weapons.
- These laser systems, developed over 50 years, use concentrated photon beams to damage or destroy targets and are operated using reconfigured Xbox controllers for ease of use by soldiers.
- The technology has also been tested against drug cartel drones along the US-Mexico border, successfully downing at least 11 drones, though it has not yet been used against human targets.
- Current laser weapons are large and mounted on battleships, but advancements like Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System aim to target heavier drones; however, lasers require clear skies and face challenges against drone swarms.
- The US Space Force is expected to integrate laser weapons into its operations in orbit, signaling a significant shift toward battlefield deployment of directed energy weapons reminiscent of past strategic defense initiatives.
