07-18-2017, 07:53 AM
美試射世界首個雷射武器 光速射擊比子彈更準
http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/2...041-260417
美國最近在實彈試射中展現世界首個雷射武器系統擊毀無人機的實力，美軍官表示這個雷射武器用途相當廣泛、除了可廣泛攻擊各種目標外，其攻擊速度高達光速、也不易受到天氣影響。
這個被簡稱為LaWS的雷射系統已經上線、隨時可發射，目前架設在美國兩棲運輸船─龐塞號船塢平臺登陸艦(USS Ponce)上，CNN記者獲得獨家採訪權，見證其試射的情況。
海軍上將Christopher Wells說，這個雷射系統的精準度比子彈高，而且用途廣泛、不像某些武器只可用在空中目標，LaWs也可用於攻擊海面和地面目標等。
除此之外這個雷射武器有其他武器無法比擬的優勢，因為它可以光速攻擊，比洲際飛彈的速度快了5萬倍。負責其系統的上尉Cale Hughes說，這個武器等於是對迎來的物體投擲大量的光子，因此不會被風影響，也不用擔心射程等問題。
在試射中美國海軍模擬用雷射武器攻擊無人機，越來越多美國對手如伊朗、北韓、中國、俄羅斯等都逐漸採用無人機。Hughes說，這個雷射武器因為其高速，攻擊時不必預測目標無人機的走向並事先射擊，只要看到目標後瞄準即可。
雷射攻擊使得無人機的機翼立即起火，最後落入海中，雷射攻擊不會產生任何聲音和跡象，Hughes指出這是因雷射光位於電磁光譜中人眼無法辨識的波段，因此無聲無息、也驚人的有效率。
Wells說這使得美國海軍也不用擔心造成間接傷害，可以只攻擊目標的一點，不用擔心發生像子彈一樣、流彈可能飛到目標後方，不小心傷到或摧毀其他東西的問題。
這個造價4,000萬美元的雷射系統，因仰賴電力運作所以有自己的小型發電機，操作人員只有3人，這個系統不需要造價百萬的飛彈、也不須任何彈藥，每次射擊的成本只有1美元。
Hughes說這個系統主要是用來摧毀飛機或小型船隻、或是使之失去動力，過去3年以來這個系統已經證實它的效率。
儘管如此美國海軍已經在發展更強大的第二代系統，希望可攻擊更大的目標如迎來的飛彈等。這個第二代的消息屬於機密，但相關人士對其潛能深具信心，記者問Wells說目前的雷射系統是否可射下飛彈時，他僅回答「可能可以」並微微一笑。
![[Image: 20170718002045.jpg]](http://img.chinatimes.com/newsphoto/2017-07-18/656/20170718002045.jpg)
![[Image: 20170718002046.jpg]](http://img.chinatimes.com/newsphoto/2017-07-18/656/20170718002046.jpg)
Exclusive: CNN witnesses US Navy's drone-killing laser
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/17/politi...index.html
CNN was granted exclusive access to a live-fire test of the laser.
"It is more precise than a bullet," Wells told CNN. "It's not a niche weapon system like some other weapons that we have throughout the military where it's only good against air contacts, or it's only good against surface targets, or it's only good against, you know, ground-based targets -- in this case this is a very versatile weapon, it can be used against a variety of targets."
LaWS begins with an advantage no other weapon ever invented comes even close to matching. It moves, by definition, at the speed of light. For comparison, that is 50,000 times the speed of an incoming ICBM.
"It is throwing massive amounts of photons at an incoming object," said Lt. Cale Hughes, laser weapons system officer. "We don't worry about wind, we don't worry about range, we don't worry about anything else. We're able to engage the targets at the speed of light."
CNN witnessed that speed and power firsthand.
For the test, the USS Ponce crew launched the target -- a drone aircraft, a weapon in increasing use by Iran, North Korea, China, Russia and other adversaries.
Immediately, the weapons team zeroed in. "We don't have to lead a target," Hughes explained. "We're doing that engagement at the speed of light so it really is a point and shoot -- we see it, we focus on it, and we can negate that target."
In an instant, the drone's wing lit up, heated to a temperature of thousands of degrees, lethally damaging the aircraft and sending it hurtling down to the sea.
The strike comes silently and invisibly. "It operates in an invisible part of the electromagnetic spectrum so you don't see the beam, it doesn't make any sound, it's completely silent and it's incredibly effective at what it does," said Hughes.
It is remarkably precise, which the Navy says could limit collateral damage in wartime.
"I can aim that at any particular spot on a target, and disable and destroy as necessary," said Wells. "It reduces collateral damage -- I no longer have to worry about rounds that may go beyond the target and potentially hurt or damage things that I don't want to hurt or damage."
All the $40 million system needs to operate is a supply of electricity, which is derived from its own small generator, and has a crew of three. No multi-million-dollar missile, no ammunition at all.
The cost per use? "It's about a dollar a shot," said Hughes.
Today, the laser is intended primarily to disable or destroy aircraft and small boats. "It's designed with the intent of being able to counter airborne and surface-based threats," said Hughes. "And it's been able to prove itself over the last three years as being incredibly effective at that."
However, the Navy is developing more powerful, second-generation systems which would bring more significant targets into its crosshairs: missiles.
Those missions remain classified. However, the commander and crew are very much aware of the potential capabilities. When we asked Wells if the current LaWS could shoot down a missile, he said simply "maybe" and smiled.
http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/2...041-260417
美國最近在實彈試射中展現世界首個雷射武器系統擊毀無人機的實力，美軍官表示這個雷射武器用途相當廣泛、除了可廣泛攻擊各種目標外，其攻擊速度高達光速、也不易受到天氣影響。
這個被簡稱為LaWS的雷射系統已經上線、隨時可發射，目前架設在美國兩棲運輸船─龐塞號船塢平臺登陸艦(USS Ponce)上，CNN記者獲得獨家採訪權，見證其試射的情況。
海軍上將Christopher Wells說，這個雷射系統的精準度比子彈高，而且用途廣泛、不像某些武器只可用在空中目標，LaWs也可用於攻擊海面和地面目標等。
除此之外這個雷射武器有其他武器無法比擬的優勢，因為它可以光速攻擊，比洲際飛彈的速度快了5萬倍。負責其系統的上尉Cale Hughes說，這個武器等於是對迎來的物體投擲大量的光子，因此不會被風影響，也不用擔心射程等問題。
在試射中美國海軍模擬用雷射武器攻擊無人機，越來越多美國對手如伊朗、北韓、中國、俄羅斯等都逐漸採用無人機。Hughes說，這個雷射武器因為其高速，攻擊時不必預測目標無人機的走向並事先射擊，只要看到目標後瞄準即可。
雷射攻擊使得無人機的機翼立即起火，最後落入海中，雷射攻擊不會產生任何聲音和跡象，Hughes指出這是因雷射光位於電磁光譜中人眼無法辨識的波段，因此無聲無息、也驚人的有效率。
Wells說這使得美國海軍也不用擔心造成間接傷害，可以只攻擊目標的一點，不用擔心發生像子彈一樣、流彈可能飛到目標後方，不小心傷到或摧毀其他東西的問題。
這個造價4,000萬美元的雷射系統，因仰賴電力運作所以有自己的小型發電機，操作人員只有3人，這個系統不需要造價百萬的飛彈、也不須任何彈藥，每次射擊的成本只有1美元。
Hughes說這個系統主要是用來摧毀飛機或小型船隻、或是使之失去動力，過去3年以來這個系統已經證實它的效率。
儘管如此美國海軍已經在發展更強大的第二代系統，希望可攻擊更大的目標如迎來的飛彈等。這個第二代的消息屬於機密，但相關人士對其潛能深具信心，記者問Wells說目前的雷射系統是否可射下飛彈時，他僅回答「可能可以」並微微一笑。
Exclusive: CNN witnesses US Navy's drone-killing laser
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/17/politi...index.html
CNN was granted exclusive access to a live-fire test of the laser.
"It is more precise than a bullet," Wells told CNN. "It's not a niche weapon system like some other weapons that we have throughout the military where it's only good against air contacts, or it's only good against surface targets, or it's only good against, you know, ground-based targets -- in this case this is a very versatile weapon, it can be used against a variety of targets."
LaWS begins with an advantage no other weapon ever invented comes even close to matching. It moves, by definition, at the speed of light. For comparison, that is 50,000 times the speed of an incoming ICBM.
"It is throwing massive amounts of photons at an incoming object," said Lt. Cale Hughes, laser weapons system officer. "We don't worry about wind, we don't worry about range, we don't worry about anything else. We're able to engage the targets at the speed of light."
CNN witnessed that speed and power firsthand.
For the test, the USS Ponce crew launched the target -- a drone aircraft, a weapon in increasing use by Iran, North Korea, China, Russia and other adversaries.
Immediately, the weapons team zeroed in. "We don't have to lead a target," Hughes explained. "We're doing that engagement at the speed of light so it really is a point and shoot -- we see it, we focus on it, and we can negate that target."
In an instant, the drone's wing lit up, heated to a temperature of thousands of degrees, lethally damaging the aircraft and sending it hurtling down to the sea.
The strike comes silently and invisibly. "It operates in an invisible part of the electromagnetic spectrum so you don't see the beam, it doesn't make any sound, it's completely silent and it's incredibly effective at what it does," said Hughes.
It is remarkably precise, which the Navy says could limit collateral damage in wartime.
"I can aim that at any particular spot on a target, and disable and destroy as necessary," said Wells. "It reduces collateral damage -- I no longer have to worry about rounds that may go beyond the target and potentially hurt or damage things that I don't want to hurt or damage."
All the $40 million system needs to operate is a supply of electricity, which is derived from its own small generator, and has a crew of three. No multi-million-dollar missile, no ammunition at all.
The cost per use? "It's about a dollar a shot," said Hughes.
Today, the laser is intended primarily to disable or destroy aircraft and small boats. "It's designed with the intent of being able to counter airborne and surface-based threats," said Hughes. "And it's been able to prove itself over the last three years as being incredibly effective at that."
However, the Navy is developing more powerful, second-generation systems which would bring more significant targets into its crosshairs: missiles.
Those missions remain classified. However, the commander and crew are very much aware of the potential capabilities. When we asked Wells if the current LaWS could shoot down a missile, he said simply "maybe" and smiled.