Watch the Navy’s Laser Weapon Destroy Drones

Don’t expect to see the laser beams flashing through the air. In this case the beams are invisible.

But it sure packs a punch! It has scalable power levels to be able to fire a non-lethal beam to dazzle a suspect vessel, and fire stronger beams to physically destroy a target.

According to sources there are three of these deployed on ships right now.

I’m thinking the range (which is classified but is said to be a few miles) is not yet far enough to take out missiles which travel about 4 miles per second. But a normal fighter jet might be in big trouble if it came too close.

And I know that the destruction is not quite as fast as a bullet. But it is much easier to guide and hold onto a target for the half second or so it takes to melt through the skin of a boat or aircraft.