Boeing's New Laser Cannon Could Be a Game-Changer for U.S. Soldiers

[jimmy olsen]

Fuck Yeah!

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/07/05/boeings-new-laser-gun-could-be-a-game-changer-for.aspx

Boeing's New Laser Gun Could Be a Game-Changer for U.S. Soldiers

Could this be the invention that helps to revive Boeing's defense business?

Rich Smith

Boeing (NYSE:BA) is building a laser gun for the U.S. Marine Corps.

No, not that ray gun you see above -- that was the U.S. Air Force Airborne Laser. And no, we're not talking about Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser or its Laser Avenger projects, either. Respectively, those weapons systems require anything from the size of a Boeing 747 to a small tank to lug them around.

Boeing's newest laser weapon system, in contrast, is small enough to be transported by hand.

Well, by a few hands at least. According to a Boeing representative, the company's new Compact Laser Weapon System (LWS) breaks down into four parts, each transportable by one or two Marines. Boeing says these components include:

a battery
a water-cooled chiller
a commercially available fiber laser
an upgraded beam director, weighing 40% less than a previous model.

In total, the system weighs about 650 pounds and would probably be operated by a squad of eight to 12 soldiers or Marines.

Able to be assembled in just 15 minutes, LWS is capable of generating an energy beam of up to 10 kilowatts that can, depending on the power level, be used to acquire, track, and identify a target -- or even destroy it -- at ranges of at least 22 miles. The weapon is designed specifically to track and attack moving aerial targets such as incoming artillery rounds, and low-flying aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

U.S. Special Operations forces are currently testing LWS, with "multiple" branches of the U.S. military expressing interest -- and no wonder.

According to Boeing, a laser gun such as LWS offers the military a "low cost per shot and an infinite magazine" -- both very attractive attributes. Indeed, in a press release, Boeing observed that "with a steady power supply, the Compact LWS can fire continuously." Such a weapon, once operational, might be used to sweep a battlefield, destroying everything it contacts, making it a significant force multiplier for dismounted infantry units.


What Boeing's new laser gun means to investors
As one of the smallest laser weapons currently in development, LWS could turn into a pretty big force multiplier for Boeing's profits, too. According to a recent study by MicroMarket Monitor, the market for directed energy weapons in the U.S., including research and development funding, hit $3.1 billion in 2013. That number is expected to more than double (to $8.1 billion) by 2018, implying a long-term annual growth rate of 21.5% -- nearly twice the 12% profits growth rate that analysts project for Boeing.

Perhaps more important, Pentagon spending on laser weapons research, development, and -- eventually -- purchases -- holds the potential to reverse declines in revenue at Boeing's defense businesses. According to S&P Capital IQ, sales at Boeing's Network and Space Systems division (which includes lasers research) dropped 6% last year from 2013 levels. Military Aircraft, Boeing's most obviously bellicose division, saw revenues slump 12% in the same period.

Should Boeing capture even just a 25% share of Pentagon-directed energy spending, however (a not unreasonable goal, given how few major defense contractors we have left), these revenues could replace essentially all revenue declines Boeing Defense has suffered over the past year. Assuming steady 9.3% profit margins, a 25% share of the $8.1 billion laser weapons market in 2018 could potentially produce as much as $750 million in operating profit for Boeing -- amounting to 10% of the company's current operating profitability.

In short, Boeing's new Compact Laser Weapon System may be designed for easy portability and small size. The profits, however, could turn out to be very big indeed.

[The Minsky Moment]

Notice there is no indication whether it actually works.
Other than as an expensive and elaborate weight training exercise for some Marines.

[Ideologue]

According to Boeing, a laser gun such as LWS offers the military a "low cost per shot and an infinite magazine" -- both very attractive attributes. Indeed, in a press release, Boeing observed that "with a steady power supply, the Compact LWS can fire continuously." Such a weapon, once operational, might be used to sweep a battlefield, destroying everything it contacts, making it a significant force multiplier for dismounted infantry units.

The US Army's inability to win wars is clearly based on its lack of firepower and marginal capacity to destroy everything on the battlefield.

[Tonitrus]

8-12 Marines for one 600-pound laser?

So why aren't we talking about laser-tanks here instead?

Heck, laser-copters, or mounting the thing on an AC-130 sounds far more practical than infantry grunts dedicated to hauling all that crap around.

[Razgovory]

Somebody came in and said that the weapon had an "infinite magazine", and weren't immediately shown the door?  Does Siegebreaker do the procurement for the Marines now?  I can just see the warning on the machine "Warning!  Air temperature with in 200 meters of the device may increase by 900 degrees when weapon is active.  Wear eye protection".

[Monoriu]

This is probably a game-changer for Boeing's fortunes, but certainly not one for US soldiers.  I thought it would be a laser rifle, not a 650 pound monster that needs to be moved by hand.  If it is that heavy, it should be put on a car, tank, or plane. 

[katmai]

Is it gonna get me fricken lasers attached to a sharks head, otherwise meh.

[jimmy olsen]

This is probably a game-changer for Boeing's fortunes, but certainly not one for US soldiers.  I thought it would be a laser rifle, not a 650 pound monster that needs to be moved by hand.  If it is that heavy, it should be put on a car, tank, or plane.

I did specify it was a cannon in the title.

[Richard Hakluyt]

According to Boeing, a laser gun such as LWS offers the military a "low cost per shot and an infinite magazine" -- both very attractive attributes. Indeed, in a press release, Boeing observed that "with a steady power supply, the Compact LWS can fire continuously." Such a weapon, once operational, might be used to sweep a battlefield, destroying everything it contacts, making it a significant force multiplier for dismounted infantry units.

The US Army's inability to win wars is clearly based on its lack of firepower and marginal capacity to destroy everything on the battlefield.

Just so, if only your bombs were just a little bit bigger then all those wars would have gone so much better 

[Brazen]

It's not what you'd call convenient or powerful. All that weight and power to defeat... sensors.

Slide three here:
http://www.boeing.com/defense/missile-defense/directed-energy/#/milestones

COMPACT LASER WEAPON SYSTEM
Packing a fiber laser with acquisition, tracking, and pointing systems creates a weapon system that is ideal for tactical missions. The system can be transported or mounted to deny intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors or defeat UAVs.

Oh and Tonitrus, the laser tank (or armoured vehicle) is slide 1.

[Syt]

I wish they would revive the Chrysler TV-8 nuclear amphibious tank instead.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_TV-8

[Crazy_Ivan80]

needs more bullseyes

[Caliga]

 

[DontSayBanana]

That's exactly what I thought of when I read about it being semiportable.

I for one welcome the transition from SAW gunners to E-WEB gunners.

[grumbler]

I wish they would revive the Chrysler TV-8 nuclear amphibious tank instead.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_TV-8

That turret was so heavy it couldn't rotate; instead, the turret motor rotated the earth.