"We are the largest landfill in the world": US Navy want more laser tests

The Indo-Pacific region will be in the forefront in a potential conflict with China. Therefore, they need a weapon that can destroy targets with speed. The US Navy commander in the Indian-Pacific region, Admiral John Aquinino, said they need to look for more asymmetric benefits in potential conflict with China. Among them are the possibilities of laser weapons. About it reports Defense News.

The command of the Indian-Pacific region is interested in increasing the number of trials and deploying weapons of directional action or laser action. "I am very encouraged by the capabilities of the high -energy laser that they are experimenting with and using," Aquinino said at the New Technologies for Defense Conference. For decades, the US and other states have been trying to create a weapon of directional energy that could hit goals at the speed of light.

Over the past three years, the Pentagon has invested $ 3 billion for such works. Basically there are two types of directional arms: high -energy laser and high -power microwave (Amy). The first is essentially a laser beam that can burn or blind the target. The second is a wave of energy that overloads or melts the electronic components of the target. The US Navy already has a Lockheed Martin laser under the name Helios and Odin.

They can fight UAVs, small boats and various intelligence gathering systems. Both are installed on destroyers. "The key is to accelerate. If such an opportunity exists and we will be able to fulfill the order in 18-24 months, I am ready to order it. I am ready to experiment with it tomorrow. I have the largest testing ground in the world," Aquinino said. We will remind, on August 28 it was written that the United States received laser weapons of Phantom the size of a refrigerator.