Childhood Notions Becoming Real -- Laser Weapons and Drones (UAVs)

Throughout my adult life I have been in countless "discussions" with friends and acquaintances about the need for defense spending. It is not atypical of my generation that there is an impulsive abhorrence of anything military, especially among graduates of elite private universities -- probably an intellectual hangover from the Vietnam War. Nevertheless, most of these friends with whom I disagree are respectful, in theory at least, of the military although they are oblivious of the threats that face us daily.

Well, yesterday, came the release of videos that should make us all confident in the value of spending to keep the nation safe. The Phalanx Weapon System is designed to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles, and is an outgrowth of similar weapon demonstrations against static targets (e.g., mortars) and high-speed ordnance (e.g., mortar rounds). Other laser systems, including the Nautilus, can bring down short-range missiles, something especially of concern to the Israelis. And, Northrop Grumman has been developing a laser for ballistic missiles for over 20 years called Airborne Laser (ABL), mounted on a Boeing 747.



Watching lasers destroy enemy targets is almost like watching the future unfold before our eyes. Many of us children of the 60s watched Star Trek, Star Wars, and even the Jetsons, and no doubt developed mental images from these shows and movies. Today's lasers represent the fulfillment of some of these dreams.