World's First Solid-State Battlefield Laser Now On Sale

[WheelsOfConfusion]

[citation][nom]JonnyDough[/nom]I would think that firing surface to surface and surface to air missles would give away sub's positions as well...That IS a large part of what our submarines do you know.[/quote]
Yes, but they can fire nuclear missiles with greater range than you can target with a laser as sea level. They're strategic rather than tactical weapons, a deterrent more than anything.
A rather significant difference in combat ability.

 

[JonnyDough]

[citation]They're strategic rather than tactical weapons, a deterrent more than anything. A rather significant difference in combat ability.[/citation]

That's why I said "ocean front." Just because that's what they USUALLY do does not mean they could not ALSO do this.

 

[Guest]

The only proposed use of high-power lasers I've heard of is as an airborne anti-missile system. Stick them on an AWACs and shoot down anti-aircraft misssiles from miles away. Any battlefield use of this laser will have to be against unmanned targets of this type as the use of lasers to maim or kill human combatants on the battlefield is banned by international conventions that I am pretty sure the USA has signed up to.

 

[kamkal]

so now someone needs to invent force fields to fend off these lasers

 

[WheelsOfConfusion]

[citation][nom]JonnyDough[/nom][citation]They're strategic rather than tactical weapons, a deterrent more than anything. A rather significant difference in combat ability.[/citation]That's why I said "ocean front." Just because that's what they USUALLY do does not mean they could not ALSO do this.[/citation]
So how do the subs spot the incoming aircraft? Active sensors would give away their position, as would surfacing. Imagine the dead give-away that constant communication with other ships necessary for coordinating this defense would involve.