On Monday, the United States Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert announced that “a solid-state laser prototype will be mounted to the fantail of the USS Ponce and sent to the 5th fleet region in the Middle East for real-world experience,” according to Fox News.

The ship mounted laser is a cutting-edge weapon capable of destroying small boats and unmanned aerial vehicles.. The Pentagon has big plans for the laser. A prototype shipboard laser will be deployed on a converted amphibious transport and docking ship as early as next year.

One official said:

It operates much like a blowtorch … with an unlimited magazine.

The Congressional Research Service, a branch of the Library of Congress said:

Equipping Navy surface ships with lasers could lead to changes in naval tactics, ship design and procurement plans for ship-based weapons, bringing about a technological shift for the Navy — a ‘game changer’ — comparable to the advent of shipboard missiles in the 1950s.

The potential targets for the 5th fleet region in the Persian Gulf are surveillance drones operated by Iran, and any small armoured enemy speed boats, currently capable of swarming and harassing United States Navy ships.

According to researchers the laser, which the Navy calls a “directed energy pulse weapon,” destroys targets 100% of the time. But the laser has other uses, too. Navy researchers say that it can be used to send signals to warn other vessels. Rear Admiral Matthew Klunder, chief of Naval Research said “Its weapon round costs about $1 (R9) to shoot.”

It did however cost $32 million (R286 million) to produce. A laser that was set to be mounted to the nose of an aircraft would have cost nearly $1,5 billion (R13 billion).

But Navy officials fear that poor weather conditions could dampen the lasers ability to fire. Another concern is whether or not the laser can take down fast moving obejcts, like fighter jets.

These laser guns or “directed energy weapons” could be the future of warfare.

But seriously though, how much longer til we get the jet pack?

[Source: Fox News, NY Times, YouTube]