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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Laser gun fired from US navy ship | Laser gun fired from US navy ship |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The US Navy has fired a laser gun from one of its ships for the first time. | The US Navy has fired a laser gun from one of its ships for the first time. |
| Researchers used the high-energy laser (HEL) to disable a boat by setting fire to its engines off the coast of California. | Researchers used the high-energy laser (HEL) to disable a boat by setting fire to its engines off the coast of California. |
| Similar systems had previously been tested on land, however moist sea air presented an extra challenge as it reduces a beam's power. | Similar systems had previously been tested on land, however moist sea air presented an extra challenge as it reduces a beam's power. |
| The navy said that ship-borne lasers could eventually be used to protect vessels from small attack boats. | The navy said that ship-borne lasers could eventually be used to protect vessels from small attack boats. |
| The US military has been experimenting with laser weapons since the 1970s. | The US military has been experimenting with laser weapons since the 1970s. |
| Early systems used large, chemical-based lasers which tended to produce dangerous waste gases. | Early systems used large, chemical-based lasers which tended to produce dangerous waste gases. |
| More recently, scientists have developed solid state lasers that combine large numbers of compact beam generators, similar to LEDs. | More recently, scientists have developed solid state lasers that combine large numbers of compact beam generators, similar to LEDs. |
| HELs fire | HELs fire |
| Until now, much of the development of HELs has focused on shooting down missiles or hitting land-based targets. | Until now, much of the development of HELs has focused on shooting down missiles or hitting land-based targets. |
| The latest round of tests showed its wider possibilities, according to Peter Morrison from the Office of Naval Research. | The latest round of tests showed its wider possibilities, according to Peter Morrison from the Office of Naval Research. |
| "This test provides an important data point as we move toward putting directed energy on warships. | "This test provides an important data point as we move toward putting directed energy on warships. |
| "There is still much work to do to make sure it's done safely and efficiently," he said. | "There is still much work to do to make sure it's done safely and efficiently," he said. |
| While a weaponised system would likely be restricted to military vessels, merchant shipping has also expressed an interest in laser technology. | |
| A gun which uses visible laser light to temporarily blind pirates was announced by BAE Systems in 2010. | A gun which uses visible laser light to temporarily blind pirates was announced by BAE Systems in 2010. |
| The technology is still being tested, ahead of a commercial launch. | The technology is still being tested, ahead of a commercial launch. |