The U.S. Navy has conducted live-fire testing of a containerised laser weapon system aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, according to released imagery.
The system, known as the LOCUST Laser Weapon System, was installed on the carrier’s flight deck and used to detect, track and engage multiple unmanned aerial vehicles during testing.
According to the U.S. Navy, the trials demonstrated the system’s ability to counter drone threats using directed energy, with the laser successfully engaging targets during the event.
LOCUST is designed as a self-contained, transportable system that can be deployed across a range of platforms. Manufacturer material indicates it is intended for roles including counter-uncrewed aerial systems, surveillance support and short-range air defence. The system incorporates electro-optical, thermal and safety subsystems, and uses a network-based interface with automated tracking and engagement functions.
USS George H.W. Bush is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier displacing around 102,000 tonnes, measuring approximately 332 metres in length and powered by two nuclear reactors driving four shafts. The vessel can reach speeds in excess of 30 knots and supports an air wing of around 90 aircraft, alongside a ship’s company of more than 3,500 personnel.
Ahh but, can It flush a Turd out to Sea ?
God bless America, God bless Jesus, God bless Trump.
Thanks for the fuel prices guys.
Try to be a little more on topic please.
It Is on topic.
USS Ford has Issues flushing Toilets.
Trump thinks he’s Jesus.
The Americans have chosen to attack Iran In a very Ill thoughtout move which Is causing untold misery to millions around the globe via higher fuel costs.
Now get over yourself.
In this deeply surreal World perfectly on topic methinks. I’m certain deeply intrigued to see if it can take out a turd at 5km, makes a change from golf or cricket balls and we certainly do not want the Med full of leakey US human effluence.
It’s the “Floaters” you have to worry about !
That’s only an issue on the new Ford Class 😏
It’s your fault you didn’t “Drill, Baby, drill.” Trump did and has the US exporting 16.7 cubic feet per day of natural gas and 5.2 million barrels of crude oil per day. Ka ching! Pay up sucker!
That’s 16.7 billion cubic feet per day.
Yep cut off everyone’s oil and then sell your own (or that which you have stolen) to them, might cover some of the billions blown already on the military effort. Trouble is the poor US consumer/business suckers are still paying World prices so only the rich and corrupt politicians benefit and it doesn’t of course solve the lack of helium and fertiliser that propels the World economies that the US needs too. That’s why the experts not the mugs with concepts of mythical 5D chess on Fox News are saying the US economy can handle no more than a month more of this. Meanwhile while the old decrepit orange man is lusting over yesterdays economy, China is ‘steaming’ ahead with tomorrows technologies and most of the World now sees them as more reliable and predictable than the US. Great self harming shot to the foot there. More pertinent I think damaging those Countries that hold all your debt is equally short sighted but hey ho it will be entertaining seeing the decline accelerate especially as the petro dollar gets burned to cinders. Sadly the idiot orchestrating all this will be long gone when the effects from his cause truly hit home.
Hmm, could almost be likened to a bit of insider trading!
Well thanks for showing us how fuel prices work. 😂😂
Shame the US Gas price has shot up as a result of Trumps “Baby brained antics”.
Must Drill harder I guess.
Have to say it’s even more surreal when someone called Halfwit is one of the brighter minds on here but then the World is somewhat fuelled more by irony than oil these days. The US better hope California, which has long prioritised renewables over oil and gas doesn’t secede as most of the rest of the Country is skiving off of its success these days.
Haha.
It’s a nickname that was given by a few “humourless Stiffs” over on the TVR site. Example above of said “Stiffs” where my post was totally misunderstood !
That’s why I love It here, It’s a target rich environment. 😁
Talking about Energy, We In the Halfwit House are currently self sufficient thanks to my Solar and Wind setups.
Leaves loads of money to spaff on my Bikes. 😊
(Triumph Daytona 1200 being delivered today, my reward for not dying !).
If you were all one big happy family over there, then having your own oil would mean your prices stayed stable while everyone else’s shot up. Yet your oil companies are pumping out the same oil as they were a couple of months ago, refining it in the same facilities, transporting it to the same gas stations they used to… and charging you another dollar per gallon for it.
Ka ching… pay up sucker!
He’s gone rather quiet !!!!!
Is this the same 20KW system used by the US Army off the jvlt?
Sounds like it. This from TWZ:
“During the live-fire event, the Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL) system tracked, engaged, and neutralized multiple target drones – marking a major milestone toward fielding operational directed energy capabilities across all domains and platforms,” the release adds. “This achievement validates that the LOCUST LWS is truly platform-agnostic, seamlessly transitioning from fixed-site and land-based mobile platforms, such as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), to the dynamic and demanding environment of a maneuvering aircraft carrier.”
P-HEL has been up-rated to 26KW in certain versions, but still relatively low power.
Seems a bit weak for a ship based laser. Unless it can literally be plonked right on the deck edge as a final line against leakers the more powerful systems didn’t get.
Its a CIWS not a replacement for SAMs
It’s only relatively platform agnostic though due to the power requirements.
Shoving one on the back of a River B2 ( for instance) means running a seriously fat jump lead from the ships power supply surely? Or…just a thought…does it come with a big generator in the container???
In any case, I want something more Flash Gordon rather than an ugly box.
AA
The army version has a generator attached. The power supply doesn’t need to be that big, there’s some big beefy expensive capacitors in there that are charged up. The photograph has step down transformer from ships power, probably 3 phase 440V to 3 phase 110V or even 240v single phase. Gut instinct says 110V.
The RN has Dragonfire.
One day it will, not now
I doubt its very useful on a ship unless its integrated into the ships combat system. No captin is going to rely on a system that that you have no idea what its doing or if its even functioning.
Will the Dragonfire make it onto the QE carriers or they’ll leave this just for their escorts?
If it has less chance than a 30mm of shredding the radars/ upper-superstructures of the surrounding escorts, then it could be a good option. But the first has yet to installed on a Type 45, and the RN has acknowledged it’s going to be an iterative development with its current capability not to the level that is usually required for deployment.
So I’d guess at least 5 years to a decade away.
So “at pace” then?
Well installing on other platforms before the Type 45 trials of a prototype weapon like this just risks spaffing money. Even if it goes 100% successfully, there’ll no doubt be tweaks and upgrades that the RN will want that’d cost £££. Cheaper to buy with all the bells and whistles than to later upgrade.
[ JOIN US ] I get paid more than $90 to $300 per hour for working online. I heard about this job 3 months ago and after joining this I have earned easily $10k from this without having online working skills . Simply give it a shot on the accompanying site…
.
You can check more.===== http://www.giftpay7.vip
I a bit scarry as if the Carrier is doing the shooting, then it’s already penetrated the outer protective screen bypassing the destroyer ring around her
I think it was tested on a carrier, doesn’t mean it will be installed and operational on a carrier.
Sounds to me it’s a prospect give answer to emergency location on ships that may find themselves under threat in a particularly hostile and unpredictable likely littoral environment. If only one of those came to mind of late.