In military action I can see the Laser operators targeting enemies instead of their boat.

USA is developing Immense Weapon Capability through Creative and Vigorous Competition amongst Brilliant Minds from all cultures including a Strong Jewish Element.Therefore the Safety of the Jewish State and it's Inhabitants those who can live in peace with each other is Paramount.

I believe this is real, a technology stolen from flying saucers recently hovering over New Orleans only as of late.

...would it burn a hole through a nuclear reactor?

Missile defense technology is expensive, ineffective, and a waste of US taxpayer's money.

but in sunny weather might be an interesting option. As one comedian quipped on his 70th birthday "if a young lady pins my back against a warm heater, I am still very - very much..."

Yes, Iron Beam has spoken with great words of something, not right sure what it would be called! Reading his spontaneous response about Missile Technology, I have concluded that one is never too old to learn something stupid!

why boats??? it can be a new weapon replacing bullets in submachine guns, automatic rifles like M16...

... so Lockheed Martin is tossing this in for free? Not worth it.

Lasers are far, far from being even close to battle field ready. (1) Lasers require a LARGE power source (2) Lasers have to "burn through" the atmosphere, wasting a lot of the energy turned into light. (3) water molecules in the air disperse the beam, lowering the power on the object. (4) a reflective surface on the target negates the laser - that is the laser beam just bounces off. (5) Lasers have long cycle times because of the tremendous heat generated by the conversion from energy to light. (6) The bottom line is there are no "magic" weapons and for every offensive weapons that is made, there are effective countermeasures. As one of the Facebook poster noted, a simple, cheap shoulder launched missile is just as effective, much more portable and much less expensive.

Well, goofball, perhaps you are wrong in assuming that the laser activates at launch. Maybe it activates three nanoseconds before acquiring the target. So much for atmospheric burn, eh, sluggo?

Why waste the energy targeting and tracking single individuals when you can take out the delivery system holding many individuals?

"Missile defense technology is expensive, ineffective, and a waste of US taxpayer's money. " ------------------- Without military technology you would not be able to post comments here, and declare that military technology is useless. Military technology has led to the internet, wireless, mainframe computers, personal computers, hard rives, all microchips, all personal electronics, all satellite communications, GPS, mobile phones, CD players, DVD players, radar, sonar,... and may more.

every post. For years.

Sarah, I dont know why you're so upset with #10's comment. What he's saying is an accurate critique of the current capabilities of laser weapons. The laser has been around since may16, 1960, and still hasn't been made into an effective weapon.

Laser technology in its current form cannot replace bullets. Even if it could be shrunk down to a level where it can be carried by a man which will be a long way into the future lasers just keep on going so you could shoot through the body and it will just keep on going. If your just firing it into the air at a rocket thats one thing but trying to use laser technology as a battlefield weapon is not viable. This is not the age of Star Wars lasers In future it is likely to be some kind of directed energy weapon that replace guns not lasers so more Star Trek technology than Star Wars. Billets are also better because its more simple. Its easy to field strip a rifle, can the soldier fix a laser if it plays up in the middle of a war? The best weapons are the simplest not the fanciest ones with all the latest gizmos.

Long term I think the future is directed energy weapons rather than lasers. Lasers have their uses but they are just not battlefield weapons. When the technology matures they will be ideal for shooting down missiles because the fact it travels at the speed of light but I cannot see them having alot of uses as an actual battlefield weapon

Dude, lasers ARE directed energy weapons. I know you're thinking of particle energy weapons, which also are directed energy weapons, but so are lasers. You point em( direct them get it)' and the energy ( laser light) hits the target. Unfortunately, they dont have the power to be useful military weapons.