Lockheed Martin’s concept film set the laser weapon as a pod that the F-16 fighter could carry. Photo: Lockheed Martin YouTube
Breaking Defense reported that Lockheed Martin disclosed that it had handed over a small energy weapon to the Air Force Research Laboratory in February, which the company described as a “laser weapon”. capable of allowing fighter jets to shoot down incoming anti-aircraft missiles.” “This is the smallest and lightest high-energy laser in its class,” said Tyler Griffin, a senior director at Lockheed Martin.
The Pentagon has commissioned or cooperated with companies including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Boeing to develop laser weapons separately. Among them, the US Air Force’s “Self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator” (Self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator), referred to as “ShiELD” (SHiELD), is a joint research and development project by multiple companies.
The part of “LANCE” that Lockheed Martin is responsible for, formerly known as “Laser Advancements for Next-generation Compact Environments” is the body of the laser gun, and Northrop Grumman The company makes the “beam control system” that directs the laser to the target, as well as the pods that are installed on the aircraft. Boeing, the subsystem responsible for the pod, has been handed over to the Pentagon.
According to The Drive-WarZone, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)As early as the end of 2017, it was planned to install laser weapons on tactical fighter jets such as F-15, F-16, F-22, and F-35 in 2021. However, there was a delay. It may be technical difficulties and work problems caused by the epidemic, but Northrop Grumman and Boeing, which is responsible for making the pod, have completed the work in 2021. It can be seen from the photos that the size and volume of the laser pod are close to the external fuel tank.
The War Zone reports that Boeing has successfully fired multiple lasers during ground tests in 2019, and has also shot down multiple air-launched missiles over the White Sands Missile Range. Lockheed Martin’s concept video featured the laser weapon in a pod that could be carried by the F-16 fighter jet, and Air Force officials talked about the possibility of using the same technology for larger, slower-moving bombers and combat support aircraft. Because compared with flexible fighter jets, it is significantly more difficult for a large aircraft to escape from a missile attack.
Breaking Defense reported that Lockheed Martin disclosed that it had handed over a small energy weapon to the Air Force Research Laboratory in February, which the company described as a “laser weapon”. capable of allowing fighter jets to shoot down incoming anti-aircraft missiles.” “This is the smallest and lightest high-energy laser in its class,” said Tyler Griffin, a senior director at Lockheed Martin.
The War Zone reports that Boeing has successfully fired multiple lasers during ground tests in 2019, and has also shot down multiple air-launched missiles over the White Sands Missile Range. Lockheed Martin’s concept video featured the laser weapon in a pod that could be carried by the F-16 fighter jet, and Air Force officials talked about the possibility of using the same technology for larger, slower-moving bombers and combat support aircraft. Because compared with flexible fighter jets, it is significantly more difficult for a large aircraft to escape from a missile attack.
The size and volume of the laser pod are similar to the external fuel tank.Photo: AFRL website