German military use laser to destroy targets over half-a-mile away

High-energy laser passes various tests with “flying colors”

Germany-based Rheinmetall Defense has demonstrated a 50kW, high-energy laser at their ground facility in Switzerland. According to representatives from the company, the device passed all target tests with “flying colors”.

High-energy laser system designed by Rheinmetall Defense.

While we’re still a bit away from the sort of shootouts we see in popular science-fiction flicks, the demonstration of this sort of weaponry is impressive nonetheless.

How it works

The Rheinmetall laser system isn’t a single laser; rather, it’s composed of two separate laser modules mounted on a Revolver Gun air defense turrets and attached to additional power modules. The laser modules themselves are 30kW and 20kW, respectively, and a Beam Superimposing Technology combines them, focusing the lights’ energy in a “superimposed, cumulative manner” for the sole purpose of obliterating its target(s).

The tests

In one test, the laser system sliced through a half-inch thick steel girder from a little more than a half-mile away. Next, from a distance of approximately one-and-a-quarter miles, the system shot down a bunch of drones as they nose-dived toward the surface at a rate of 50m/s.

Specific to this test, the system’s radar was able to actually track the drones through their descent at a distance of two and a half miles.

The last test the system performed was perhaps its most impressive. The weapon was able to focus in on and destroy a steel ball with an 82mm diameter traveling at 50m/s. Beyond demonstrating a high level of accuracy, the purpose of this demonstrate was to simulate how well the laser could handle an incoming mortar round.

Representatives from Rheinmetall say that the laser system will reduce the time required for counter rocket, artillery, and mortar measures to just a couple of seconds — even in difficult weather circumstances. As a matter of fact, the weather during the aforementioned tests featured a wide array of typical Swiss-based weather patterns, including ice, rain, snow, and extremely bright sunlight.

Outlook

Looking forward to the immediate future, the company plans to test a 60kW “technology demonstrator”: the quotes are purposeful here, as this new system will feature a couple of different technologies coming together in one unit. This includes 35mm Ahead Revolver Guns, which will allow the company to explore ways in which a laser and automatic canon can be used together.

Looking a bit further down the road, Rheinmetall’s ultimate goal is to get their technology to a 100kW laser, and to make these systems mobile, where they can be mounted onto an armored vehicle so that they can be operated in the open. ■

German military use laser to destroy targets over half-a-mile away