The Itano Circus now has something to fear.
We are now one step closer to a world with jet fighters equipped with laser beams. It’s just not going to work the way you think it would, though.
The US Air Force just successfully tested the Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) at their White Sands Missile Range. SHiELD was able to take out all of the air-launched missiles fired, marking a huge step forward in its development. It is, however, not quite ready to be strapped to a sleek, airborne fighter jet just yet.
Considering that the Air Force only handed Lockheed Martin the contract for SHiELD in 2017, it’s going along swimmingly. Though it wont be ready for in air tests until 2021. And even then, it’ll go through rigorous testing before it actually makes its way into the field.
Granted, the project will have a large impact on air combat, if successful. That said, it won’t be in the offensive capacity you might usually think when you hear the word “laser” thanks to years of fiction. Rather, SHiELD is a powerful defensive option, potentially capable of protecting aircraft from practically all missile strikes.
Source: Engadget
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