Lasers - Light and other electromagnetic radiation is subject to the Inverse Square Law (the major physics barrier) which explains the drastic laser light fall-off in power with increasing distance of the target eg at 2 km only able to deliver 1/4 of the power at 1 km, at 3 km its down to 1/9th, at 4 km 1/16 and so on. The power drop means very short range weapons, at longer ranges 5 km plus requires big power and a fantastically accurate fire control systems needed to hold the limited power of the laser beam concentrated on a few sq cm of the target if going to burn through and destroy target, so speculating will be very expensive pieces of kit destroying the rationale for laser systems over rocket powered missiles.albedo wrote: ↑27 Mar 2022, 15:36The problem with this sort of 'joke' is that it denies the possibility of major technological advances. Look at what the advent of REBCO magnets has done for the prospects for nuclear fusion reactors for instance. What was previously possible on only a massively costly scale (see the ITER project for instance) now looks feasible at a national or enterprise rather than an international scale. OK, there's probably still a decade or more of development and pilot scale reactors still to go, but suddenly the outlook is looking much more positive.
Who is to say that some similar breakthrough might not happen with laser weapons - I'm not aware that there's any major physics barrier like the speed of sound or light in play here. Maybe it won't ever happen, but it might just take some new material development or bright idea to be a step change in their prospects too.
Special cases where lasers applicable, Israel where with Iron Dome they fired 1,600? Tamir missiles to counter the 4,000+ rocket attacks from Gaza in 11 days May last year which does not come cheap even at only at $186,000 per missile, Israel granted $1 billion in extra aid from US to help fund the missiles plus additional $500 million for general missile defence. Israel is developing the short range Iron Beam laser as a less expensive option, expect will be a viable system as Israel has wall to wall sunshine. As said if atmospheric conditions not favourable, cloud, rain etc, the laser beam subject to dispersion making it near useless.
Think for T83 to make it 'future' proofed for lasers looks pure waste of money as the odds on lasers becoming viable weapon system very low except in exceptional circumstances as in Israel.