But airborne chemical lasers fell out of favor due to the need to maintain a bulky “chemical plant” onboard, Dahm said. In 2009 tests, an Air Force C-130H fired a chemical laser at ground targets. The laser could be used for offensive purposes, such as attacking buildings, cell towers, generators and vehicles, and to improve defenses against shoulder-launched, surface-to-air missiles, Dahm told reporters at the Pentagon Dec. Based on the outcome of that demonstration, AFSOC will determine whether that’s enough value for them.” “So from a technical point of view, the maturity is there to be able to do a demonstration. “The study found that there are operationally useful power levels that will fit within the size, weight and power budget available on that platform,” said Werner Dahm, the AFSAB’s chair and a former Air Force chief scientist. The findings could boost plans by Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to mount a laser on an AC-130 and conduct a demonstration in 2020. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (AFSAB) has found that solid-state laser weapons are mature enough to be tested on aircraft, such as an AC-130 gunship.
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