Compact laser system destroys UAVs in repeated tests
Science fiction is becoming science fact as Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System harnesses light to destroy its targets silently and precisely.
Thanks to the invisible power of light, a target’s operator won’t immediately know how an unmanned aerial vehicle was disabled or destroyed. That means the system will provide essential advantages that are key to a mission’s success. Revert to original text
The system destroyed a UAV during an August demonstration for Pentagon officials at Point Mugu in California. In September, the system destroyed a quadcopter during live-fire testing, the first time the Compact Laser Weapon System tracked and defeated that type of UAV.
The system sets up in minutes, works in seconds, and operates on about a cup of fuel to generate its power. It’s portable, uses a commercially-available laser, and can be operated by a single person with a laptop and a game-style controller.
Check out this video to see how directed energy can protect the warfighter.