Combat lasers (30-60kw) heats the inside of an incoming mortar round and cause it to explode mid-air. Mortar rounds are moving at hundreds of miles per hour. Lasers pierce the outer skin of a drone, taking out key circuits and making it crash. There is a Lockheed video where the laser heats the rear control fin of a drone and sets it on fire. The US will be testing a 150 kilowatt laser next year.
Laser Countermeasures
ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballastic Missiles) and other rockets can be made to spin (rotate) so that the laser heating would be spread around the missile instead of lingering on one spot. This would double or triple the power or the time needed to take out the missile.
Dielectric mirrors can be 99.99+% reflective to particular wavelengths. Multiple coatings proof each working against a different range of wavelengths could be applied.
Ablative materials can absorb laser energy and use it to transform into a gas. The laser strike would hit the ablative material and vaporize it, without dealing serious damage to the target underneath.
Counter lasers to confuse targeting
There are also counter lasers that can be used to confuse the targeting of an attacking laser.
How long does it take to destroy the target
Higher power lasers will be able to destroy targets more quickly. Currently it may take 5-15 seconds to destroy a target. Increase the power or add more lasers and they could destroy a target more quickly. There is also microwaves that can be used and EMP to attack electronics and there are computer targeted projectile weapons.
Brian Wang is a prolific business-oriented writer of emerging and disruptive technologies. He is known for insightful articles that combine business and technical analysis that catches the attention of the general public and is also useful for those in the industries. He is the sole author and writer of nextbigfuture.com, the top online science blog. He is also involved in angel investing and raising funds for breakthrough technology startup companies.
He gave the recent keynote presentation at Monte Jade event with a talk entitled the Future for You. He gave an annual update on molecular nanotechnology at Singularity University on nanotechnology, gave a TEDX talk on energy, and advises USC ASTE 527 (advanced space projects program). He has been interviewed for radio, professional organizations. podcasts and corporate events. He was recently interviewed by the radio program Steel on Steel on satellites and high altitude balloons that will track all movement in many parts of the USA.
He fundraises for various high impact technology companies and has worked in computer technology, insurance, healthcare and with corporate finance.
He has substantial familiarity with a broad range of breakthrough technologies like age reversal and antiaging, quantum computers, artificial intelligence, ocean tech, agtech, nuclear fission, advanced nuclear fission, space propulsion, satellites, imaging, molecular nanotechnology, biotechnology, medicine, blockchain, crypto and many other areas.
