It is said that the U.S. military will be in the “revenge” UAV installation of solid state laser weapons, and plans to test before 2017 – when the UAV with laser weapons.
Recently, California, a research and development “Predator” and “death” attack type UAV company said that in the absence of computer equipped with laser weapons is expected within a few years to achieve, and plans in 2017 test installed in “the Avengers” without man-machine solid-state laser weapon. Before the U. S. general atomics has a 150 kW high powered laser delivered to the Pentagon, to tested at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. If the UAV airborne laser weapon development success, will further stimulate the potential of the use of drones, so that the U.S. military has a close air support and air defense capabilities.
UAV since the date of birth, by virtue of the unique operational advantages, has been favored by many countries in the world. However, with the world’s most sophisticated UAV operational system of the United States for, in recent years, in addition to vigorously develop UAV project is constantly trying to will machine and Laser Pointer weapon combination of two kinds of technology, create a both the merits of new weapon system.In the 70′s of last century, the United States Air Force began the research of airborne high energy laser weapon. In 1992, the American army put forward the “airborne laser program. The program to improve the Boeing 747-400f aircraft as a launch platform, will produce high energy laser chemical oxygen iodine laser is used as the core, the laser is used as the direct energy damage or failure. However, due to the excessive volume of equipment, the development cost of the problem, the plan was terminated by the end of 2011.
Although frustration of airborne laser weapons research, but because of the laser weapon has reaction speed fast, low use cost, hit a distinctive feature of high accuracy, makes us can not bear to give up the study and try to explore other feasible solutions. So the U.S. missile defense agency began to look for a new generation of airborne laser weapons that is easy to carry.”High energy liquid laser area defense system” project developed by the laser weapon can meet the requirements of the U.S. military. The weight and volume of such weapons are only 1/10 of similar products at that time, which can be used to combat ground targets. After the unmanned aerial vehicle mounted laser weapon system, its advantages will be further enlarged. On the one hand, due to the small size of the UAV itself, and good concealment and other characteristics, can be used to perform a variety of air combat missions. In addition, after the installation of Green Laser , but also has a fast attack speed, more than the ability to strike a target, so that the operational efficiency of the UAV greatly improved. On the other hand, laser weapons can be energy converge into a fine beam accurately fired at an object. This will help to improve the accuracy of UAV in the fight, to avoid innocent casualties. But the energy consumption is always the bottleneck problem of laser weapon, but general atomics had to design a charging system, charging each one capable of launching 5 to 6 times, then they can continue their UAV power system in electricity.
Although the loading of laser weapon UAV combat capability is greatly improved, but there is still an urgent need to solve the problem. Early in the United States had a “hell fire” missile installed in the UAV on the precedent. But the difference is that the laser weapon will be affected by dust, debris or atmospheric disturbance, the complexity of its installation far beyond the “hell fire”". At the same time resolved laser weapon in its target, aerodynamic effects caused by the effect of optical distortion. In addition, a 150 kW laser weapon weight too large, existing MQ-1 Predator drones and MQ-9 “death” drones are not carrying the weapon, so technicians can only will want to repose in the load of 1300 kg “predator – C” “the Avengers” unmanned aerial with a Laser Sight .
From the point of view of the development trend of laser weapon, the future airborne laser weapon system will develop towards the direction of miniaturization and high power. The combination of UAV and laser weapons will have a profound impact on the traditional combat thinking. Despite the distance from the practical application of 100mw laser , various successful experiments indicate that the laser weapon will bring profound changes and impacts to the future war.On September 20, 2012, Swiss Air Force Base in Emmen, Switzerland, for people to visit display of airline of Israel in the heron UAV. UAV is referred to as the unmanned aircraft, also known as aerial robot. It contains a variety of airborne equipment, according to the preset program to automatically perform the task, but also by the operating personnel of remote control to complete the task.
This photo released in December 9, 2012 shows that the United States Navy in the waters of the Atlantic, “Truman” aircraft carrier, X-47B unmanned combat aircraft system for display. “Truman” aircraft carrier is the first U.S. aircraft carrier aircraft carrier aircraft carrier. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, radar and communication technology, the UAV is not a simple plane without a pilot, and become a combat system, known as the UAV system with the laser pointer keychain . This system includes not only the unmanned aircraft, as well as the operation of the aircraft control system, contact the UAV and control systems communications equipment, as well as other support equipment.
This U.S. military in January 5, 2011 released photos show that an unmanned weapon’s shadow UAV launch. According to the different purposes, no human can be divided into target drone, reconnaissance, electronic fighters, attack aircraft, bait machines and communications relay aircraft and so on. UAV technology involves a number of cutting-edge technology in the field of science and technology, its R & D and production of a country’s comprehensive scientific and technological level.
