Laser-based ‘Iron Beam’ Interception System Declared Operational

[Deleted account]

TBH I don't expect this system to be able to protect the USA against Russian (or Chinese, or Korean, or <insert country name here>) nukes. What works for Israel - a country the size of a postage stamp, mind you - can never work for a political entity that's roughly four hundred times larger.

I'm also not at all sure the WH realizes the above.

 

[Spyglass]

That's exactly what I'm on about.

Me too.

 

[Torch]

General Atomics Confirms Drone-Killing Air-to-Air Laser is in Development - Naval News

General Atomics has confirmed the existence of a new airborne laser program being developed for the U.S. military's fleet of MQ-9 drones.

www.navalnews.com

It seems the current questions of lasers as weapons is scalability. Currently deployed lasers are in the 25-100kw range which allows them to be used against drones.
Lasers scaled in the megawatt size would be required for destroying ballistic missiles.

One big opportunity is see for laser weapons is in the taking out of drones of all sizes. The army has a Stryker mounted laser that fits this bill.

The mysterious “they” have been testing airborne chemical lasers on and off as tech improves. The number of shots are finite but generally have a much higher output then the electric fiber optic lasers used for warhead attacks on missiles and drones.

Now anyone here can get a better answer with google but I believe you are correct in the fiber output range however the chemicals (iirc) are 75-150. Lots of problems too. Lenses don’t last long and the multitool polarity induction inductor reacts ooorly with the flux capacitor unless you use a Mr Fusion brand controller.

I did read a paper where they were dealing with atmospheric diffusion by using the equivalent of raging shots, reading the distortion and tuning it in the outgoing beams. Kinda of sounds simple, but apparently it’s like a big deal.

Also to mess all this up, apparently someone has decided to try putting lasers as the payload on interceptors.
That will take care of line of sight issues. Monies are apparently not a barrier to good solid project enrichment.

None of this is wrote. I’m just recalling what I have read. Please insert corrections and comments (post with “moron utter an are you” get pinned to the top!!

 

[Publius]

Mobile laser technology I suspect has great prospects for combating drones.

Would it be possible to create an umbrella for the entire US. Not likely at least in near term.
That doesn’t mean high population areas, infrastructure and industrial areas cannot be protected.
The more that a nation can protect the greater the deterrence increases.
It’d not perfect but again, do nothing?

 

[alphaecho]

Los misteriosos "ellos" han estado probando láseres químicos aerotransportados intermitentemente a medida que la tecnología avanza. El número de disparos es limitado, pero generalmente tienen una potencia mucho mayor que la de los láseres de fibra óptica eléctricos utilizados para ataques con ojivas contra misiles y drones.

Cualquiera aquí puede encontrar una mejor respuesta con Google, pero creo que tienes razón en el rango de salida de la fibra; sin embargo, los químicos (si no recuerdo mal) son de 75 a 150. También hay muchos problemas. Las lentes no duran mucho y el inductor de polaridad de la multiherramienta reacciona mal con el condensador de flujo, a menos que uses un controlador de la marca Mr Fusion.

Leí un artículo donde abordaban la difusión atmosférica usando el equivalente a disparos furiosos, leyendo la distorsión y quemándola en los rayos salientes. Parece simple, pero aparentemente es algo muy importante.

Además de complicar todo esto, aparentemente alguien ha decidido intentar poner láseres como carga útil en los interceptores.
Eso solucionará los problemas de visibilidad. Aparentemente, el dinero no es un obstáculo para un buen enriquecimiento de proyectos sólidos.

Nada de esto está escrito. Solo estoy recordando lo que he leído. Por favor, inserten correcciones y comentarios (las publicaciones con "tonto, ¿eres tú?" se fijan arriba).

 

[DEFCON Warning System]

View attachment 7943

Looks familiar.

 

[Spyglass]

I did read a paper where they were dealing with atmospheric diffusion by using the equivalent of raging shots, reading the distortion and tuning it in the outgoing beams. Kinda of sounds simple, but apparently it’s like a big deal.

Yes the atmospheric diffusion is a problem. You can’t get a laser to kill a target super far away, because the beam loses focus slightly but also the atmosphere stops part of it. The way around that problem that I had read, was basically there is a “Pre-shot” or atmospheric primer shot that literally dissolves the atmosphere in front of the primary beam, so it can get through.

I will try to find some info on this topic.

 

[Publius]

Yes the atmospheric diffusion is a problem. You can’t get a laser to kill a target super far away, because the beam loses focus slightly but also the atmosphere stops part of it. The way around that problem that I had read, was basically there is a “Pre-shot” or atmospheric primer shot that literally dissolves the atmosphere in front of the primary beam, so it can get through.

I will try to find some info on this topic.

Lasers have their disadvantages, their advantages are time on target is virtually instantaneous. One of the mundane components will be their battery storage capacities and recharge times. I’ve done little reading on this. Is their rate of fire sufficient to deal with several inbound targets.
Or will they act more like more like a muzzle loader.

If anyone has read anything on this love to hear it

 

[NuclearID]

Lasers have their disadvantages, their advantages are time on target is virtually instantaneous. One of the mundane components will be their battery storage capacities and recharge times. I’ve done little reading on this. Is their rate of fire sufficient to deal with several inbound targets.
Or will they act more like more like a muzzle loader.

If anyone has read anything on this love to hear it

I’m no laser guru, but a few things I’ve picked up...

The limiter isn’t ammo it’s power and heat so if the generator & cooling keeps up shots can be back to back if not you get short pauses. So not a muzzle loader more like a hose that needs to cool time to time. Which is why it will have to be a layered defense. More then one laser battery will be needed in a saturation scenario per area of coverage.

Time per target for small drones can take a few seconds in clean air I would guess. Queueing & triage matters if several are inbound at once but AI will make quick work of that I would also assume.

Atmospherics hurt even turbulence, smoke, dust, fog these all spread laser beam.

I’ve seen the pre shot idea but operational systems seem to rely more on adaptive power instead of any sci fi clear the air pulse.

Most fielded kits use generators plus big big big capacitors not just batteries. The goal is a steady electrical magazine, not long recharge cycles. This I do know!

Sweet spot for now for this tech is UAS, rockets, mortars at short to medium range with cheap silent shots. Save us quite literally billions in interceptor missiles. Well for Israel at least, but by extension US taxpayers too since we supply them in giant aid bills to them.

If anyone has solid unclassified numbers on Iron Beam engagement cycle shots per minute or dwell ranges and weather derates I’d love to see them too!

 

[Torch]

Yes the atmospheric diffusion is a problem. You can’t get a laser to kill a target super far away, because the beam loses focus slightly but also the atmosphere stops part of it. The way around that problem that I had read, was basically there is a “Pre-shot” or atmospheric primer shot that literally dissolves the atmosphere in front of the primary beam, so it can get through.

I will try to find some info on this topic.

That makes far more sense to me.

Im hope I indicated that I was spitballing from a memory. I was sure about the ranging shot (or pre shot) but I thought I read about retuning the laser for immediate atmospheric conditions.
Your explanation sounds far better. TY

 

[NuclearID]

️️️️️️️
‏ Following the recent escalation, during which Eilat became a favorite target for the Houthis and unmanned aerial vehicles managed to hit two public sites last week, an advanced "Iron Beam" interception system is expected to be deployed in the city - the innovative Israeli laser system designed to provide immediate response and strengthen the defense shield against increasing aerial threats.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1971330475940774290

️️️️️Its already being deployed to Israeli cities!