Why Operational Laser Weapons Are Closer To Being Deployed

Lockheed Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL), which is now aiming for a 300kW class rating, will provide an all-new countermeasure against rockets, drones, and artillery. Lockheed Martin 

Warzone/The Drive: How The Once Elusive Dream Of Laser Weapons Suddenly Became A Reality 

One of Lockheed Martin's top directed energy minds explains how breakthroughs in communications and industrial tech made laser weapons possible. After decades of toiling and dead-ends, the dream of operational laser weaponry is about to become a reality. So, what changed that made what had been bulky systems go from clumsy pipe dreams to hardened, miniaturized, and reliable weapons that will be able to be deployed even in the harshest of conditions? 

We recently had an in-depth interview with Dr. Rob Afzal, Lockheed Martin Senior Fellow, Laser and Sensor Systems, where I pressed him on everything related to laser weaponry and the emerging military applications that go along with it. In the course of answering my maelstrom of queries, Dr. Afzal eloquently conveyed how we have suddenly arrived in an era where laser weapons will become widespread across the battlefield. In this first piece in our two-part series with Lockheed's directed energy guru, I wanted to share his explanation with you, as it is fascinating in its own right. 

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WNU Editor: A good and easy to read summary on why the deployment of laser weapons will become a reality sooner rather than later.