Laser weapon-Boeing Humvee

[broberfett]

They've made a Humvee that carries a huge laser. The purpose is to shoot IEDs, but a person wouldn't be doing to well if they got hit.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4231116.html

 

[Amaris]

broberfett said:
They've made a Humvee that carries a huge laser. The purpose is to shoot IEDs, but a person wouldn't be doing to well if they got hit.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4231116.html

Fantastic. I hope this comes to fruition. We hear too many stories of roadside IEDs that kill troops (and probably a whole bunch of other people, too!). Anything like this that can saves lives is worth the time and money to develop, in my opinion.


J.

 

[broberfett]

The problem is seeing the IED. Also Iran has been manufacturing explosive devices-they aren't improvised. I saw footage of one that was so big that it took out an M-1 Abrams tank.

 

[Mallory]

I agree with you that detection is the key. But detonation from long range isn't a bad concept either. Right now the engineers have to get up close and personal to disable the IED or place explosives to destroy it. Why take the risk if you can detonate it from long range?

 

[Psion]

Not to diss all over directed energy weapons, but why not simply shoot observed IEDs with a rifle, bazooka, or whatever other directed kinetic energy weapon you have available? Are they that hard to set off?

 

[philbob]

No there not but I MEF's policy as of Oct 2006 was to cordon off the IED and await the arival of EOD due to the fact you never know if it will have secondary explosives attached somehow or specialied munitions.... there were two principle types also gas canistars and jurry rigged 155mm artillary shells

 

[Timo]

So basically, Boeing built a laser that can't power up fast enough to hit anything moving, and doesn't have a practicable targeting or tracking system anyway, plus lacks the range to stop any incoming threats before it's way too late, so they decided to shoot IEDs with it?

Obviously, an Avenger mount suggests a desire to have an anti-flyer application. Like the Israeli, Boeing probably ultimately hopes to intercept incoming dumb projectiles like mortar rounds or RPGs, and as an intermediate stage might succeed in diverting incoming missiles and LGBs, or harassing aircraft pilots. But since they only have the laser itself at this stage, without any means of aiming it, this fish-in-a-barrel application is as good as any for getting the sales pitch started.

Personally, I'd use the machine gun on that Avenger to get rid of a suspected IED, from a much safer distance.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

Heh, check out comment no. 25 on the linked page, TNZ material!

But as an aside, the laser is highly accurate and guarantees detonation of the IED or what have you, isn't it quite an unwieldy and expensive bit of kit to carry around on a vehicle that would presumably get stoned, shot at or hit with something heavier on a regular basis?

 

[FordSVT]

Sounds like an extremely expensive way to do something you can do for far less money. Interesting idea but I don't think it suits the application.