“Despite advances in systems such as the Navy’s HELIOS and the Army’s IFPC-HEL, modern lasers are currently unable to reliably counter the threat of hypersonic weapons,” the magazine wrote. “While America is looking for a real solution to the myriad problems posed by modern hypersonic weapons, lasers and directed energy weapons are not an effective means.”
The magazine confirms, quoting the US Department of Defense, that in order to stop a hypersonic missile on its way to its target, it will require the use of a laser with a power of no less than 1 megawatt, which is three times more powerful than the most modern tactical laser system, but even such a laser will likely be unable to burn the warhead of a hypersonic missile.
The paper notes that water vapor, sand, salt, smoke, air pollution and other substances in the atmosphere can have a scattering effect on laser beams.
This atmospheric turbulence is such a serious problem that the Pentagon currently considers lasers to be viable at ranges of only about one mile. Even optimistic projections for the near future still suggest that lasers will only be effective at ranges of less than five miles.
Today, there are two countries that possess hypersonic weapons: Russia and China. In addition, a military source close to the Iranian-backed Shiite Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) told the Russian news agency “Novosti” in March 2024 that they had tested a deadly hypersonic missile and were preparing to use it in combat missions. The source explained that the missile is capable of reaching a speed of Mach 8 (equivalent to about 9,500 km/h).
Source: Novosti
#American #magazine #American #laser #systems #unable #hit #hypersonic #missiles
2024-08-05 18:12:59
