Strange thing on DDG-105

[seruriermarshal]

Strange thing on DDG-105 , Laser ?

 

[jsport]

Wow, thank you for the posting..
and what the heck?

 

[Avimimus]

Could be a telescope or some type of sensor? Perhaps for ABM?

 

[sferrin]

Maybe it's for watching X-51/HTV-2 testing?

 

[Hobbes]

The 2 generators next to the device show that a large amount of power is needed. The largest is around 500 kW, I'd say.

 

[1st503rdSGT]

The 2 generators next to the device show that a large amount of power is needed. The largest is around 500 kW, I'd say.

Me thinks that powerful auxiliary generators+large optics=some kind of solid-state laser.

 

[dark sidius]

It look like a laser gun with power generator

 

[quellish]

Strange thing on DDG-105 , Laser ?

Looks a little like LaWS, but not enough to be sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR_pjzW98dM

 

[flateric]

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R41526.pdf

 

[bobbymike]

Yup apparently LaWS;

http://www.informationdissemination.net/2012/08/time-to-talk-lasers.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InformationDissemination+%28Information+Dissemination%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

 

[flateric]

Scott's investigation
http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=15951

 

[Grey Havoc]

Via the previously linked ID article: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R41526.pdf

Laser Weapon System (LaWS)


One Navy fiber SSL prototype demonstrator, called the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) , has a
beam power of 33 kW. The Navy has envisioned LaWS being used for operations such as
disabling or reversibly jamming EO sensors, countering UAVs and EO guided missiles, and
augmenting radar tracking. The Navy has envisioned installing LaWS on a ship either on its own
mount or (more likely) as an add-on to an existing Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
mount.21 The Navy funded work to integrate LaWS with CIWS, to support the latter option.
The Navy stated the following regarding tests of LaWS:

• In June 2009, LaWS successfully engaged five threat-representative UAVs22 in
five attempts in tests in combat-representative scenarios in a desert setting at the
Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake, in southern California.

• In May 2010, LaWS successfully engaged four threat-representative UAVs in
four attempts in combat-representative scenarios at a range of about one nautical
mile in an over-the-water setting conducted from San Nicholas Island, off the
coast of southern California. LaWS during these tests also demonstrated an
ability to destroy materials used in rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs—a type of
small boat) at a range of about half a nautical mile, and to reversibly jam and
disrupt electro-optical/infrared sensors.23

The Navy has envisioned scaling up the power of the LaWS beam to about 100 kW by FY2014.
How much beyond 100 kW the system could eventually be scaled up to is not clear, but the
system is not generally viewed as having the potential for being scaled up to megawatt power
levels.

The Navy stated that as of June 2010, the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the LaWS
prototype “is approaching 6, based on a system prototype demonstration in a relevant (maritime)
environment.”24 The Navy has estimated that it might cost roughly $150 million to develop LaWS
to TRL 7, meaning the demonstration of a system prototype in an operational environment. The
Navy considers the LaWS effort to be ready for conversion into a program of record, should
policymakers decide that this would be desirable. If the LaWS effort were converted soon into a
POR, the Navy believes a production version of LaWS might achieve Initial Operational
Capability (or IOC—a type of official in-service date) on Navy surface ships around FY2017.


21 As mentioned earlier the Phalanx CIWS is a radar-controlled Gatling gun that fires bursts of 20mm shells.
22 Threat-representative means that the UAV is generally similar in design and capabilities to UAVs operated by
potential adversaries.
23 For a Navy press release about this test, see NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command) press release dated May 28,
2010, and entitled “Navy Laser Destroys Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in a Maritime Environment,” accessed online at
http://www.navsea.navy.mil/PR2010/PressRelease_20100528_Laser%20Destroys%20UAV.pdf. The UAVs engaged in
these tests were BQM-147s, which various sources describe as low-cost, propeller-driven UAVs with a length of about
5 feet, a wingspan of about 8 feet, and a maximum speed of 100 knots or less.
24 Source: Navy information paper dated June 6, 2011, provided by the Navy to CRS and CBO on June 14, 2011. DOD
uses TRL ratings to characterize the developmental status of many weapon technologies. DOD TRL ratings range from
1 (basic principles observed and reported) to 9 (actual system proven through successful mission operations). For the
definitions of all 9 DOD TRL ratings, see Appendix H.

EDIT: Scott already linked to the same paper over in his blog.

 

[seruriermarshal]

more pic

;D

 

[Jemiba]

Perhaps we will hear more about this weapon soon:
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/technology/sci-tech/united-states-navy-to-send-prototype-laser-gun-on-ship-to-persian-gulf/story-fn5jhw50-1226615482023