"The U.S. Marines’ Next Anti-Aircraft Weapon Could Be a Laser" Topic

"Every military in the world worth its epaulets is investing in drones. Now sensing that drones could be a threat to U.S. troops, the Marines are working on a laser to zap them out of the sky.

It's called GBAD — for ground-based, anti-air directed energy weapon. The Pentagon's Office of Naval Research announced on June 11 it had awarded a series of contracts for the laser, which the Marines hope will augment a looming future shortage of anti-air Stinger missiles.

ONR has tested some components for the weapon already, and wants to carry out field experiments with a 10-kilowatt laser later this year. In two years time, it wants to triple the laser's power to 30 kilowatts…"
Full article here
link

Which rules for wargame this? (smile).

Amicalement
Armand

Why is there a "looming shortage of anti-air Stinger missiles"?

We've been using them all up on our enemies aircraft?

No…that can't be it.

They've reach their expiration dates? That's the more likely answer.

The article is interesting and I suspect that G Dog is right (that plus missiles used up in training).

That article does have a link to another article on hovercraft use in the Mekong Delta, which is pretty interesting as well (if a bit light).

Rob

Why is there a "looming shortage of anti-air Stinger missiles"?

Rocket motors reaching their safe life range. The difference between a rocket motor and a large bomb is how much of the fuel is ignited at once.

The US would have to order a bajillion more of the things and make sure that all the existing stocks got rebuilt, as an old rocket motor can blow up with enough force to kill an Abrams tank.

Glad you enjoyed the article my friend.

Amicalement
Armand

I can see cheep drones costing less than the missiles used to shoot them down. A laser makes a good alternative.