Finally, the long-range plane-mounted tactical laser cannon we've been waiting for

Devin Coldewey — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:41:07 +0000

You guys may have seen our many previous reviews of long range plane-mounted tactical laser cannons, but let’s be honest: none have really lived up to the hype. Like Ultra HD or mobile TV, long range plane-mounted tactical laser cannons have just been impractical and difficult to recommend — until now. This latest long range plane-mounted tactical laser cannon being promoted by the US Air Force and Boeing is supposed to produce the heat of a blowtorch at a distance of 20km, or 12 miles in primitive continental units. It mounts on the compact and popular C-130 Hercules and is so effective and untraceable that it will be used in situations that require “plausible deniability,” as in “How do you know it wasn’t someone else’s long range plane-mounted tactical laser cannon.”

Could this be the freaking long range plane-mounted tactical laser cannon that breaks through into the popular market? And to think that such a short time ago, spray-on laser shielding seemed like such a luxury. Don’t worry just yet though, the Directed Energy Directorate (DED) is still about $400 million away from making a home model.

TechCrunch » laser cannons

Finally, the long-range plane-mounted tactical laser cannon we've been waiting for