The United States Air Force has announced that it will begin assembling a prototype of the first tactical laser weapon for in-flight missile destruction this month.
In the near future fighter jets will beThree basic modules of the defensive system have been installed. Delivery of the remaining elements is scheduled for July, and final assembly should be completed before the end of the year.
According to a statement from the US Air Force Research Laboratory, high-energy laser weapons are intended exclusively for defensive purposes, namely defenseaircraft from class missiles"air-to-air" and "ground-to-air". The installation's guidance system can hit objects moving faster than the speed of sound, directing the beam taking into account external factors and dynamic flight conditions.
The development of components and subsystems was carried out by Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman.
The US military planned to deploylaser weapon back in 2015, but faced a whole host of technical difficulties related to fire control. Even after the installation of the first prototypes this year, their tests will only be completed by 2024.
text: Ilya Bauer, photos and videos: Lockheed Martin
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