Why lasers fail in war.

[Psycho666]

I'm sure by now that at least half of you have heard about the successful testing of the US Navy's laser weapons. The big ship-mounted weapon that is going to 'clear the skies' of missiles, drones, and enemy fighters while laying waste to enemy ships and infantry.

Maybe some of you have heard of the plans to arm our next generation of fighter jets with 'pod-mounted lasers' for air superiority.

If so, I hope someone can burn some holes through the first thing I thought about.

Mirrors. Won't our enemies simply start to use reflective surfaces on their weapons and armors? Or take it a step further. Painted mirrors. When the heat melts the paint, it simply reflects the laser?

Please prove me stupid.

[Supermonkeydude8888]

Those would have to be some high-spec mirrors.

Mirrors don't actually reflect all incident radiation, so a powerful enough laser could vaporize the silver backing.

Also, if these mirrors are going to be used on the exterior of fighter jets, they will have to withstand supersonic shock waves and also major heating and expansion.

[24901miles]

The laser would just vaporize the mirror.

[Psycho666]

awesome. Thanks. Thats what happens when you grow up watching cartoons.

[Slacker013]

The one thing that comes in mind for laser defense would be the tiles used on the space shuttle. Make your self a suit out of those and as long as its well insulated you could survive Halo until someone picks up a rifle.

[Luer]

Laser weapons are real????

[Xenomit]

At 11/23/13 01:39 AM, Luer wrote: Laser weapons are real????

Dude

They have been since like, the early 2000's

And prototypes for them have been around since the 90's

[Stereocrisis]

At 11/23/13 01:41 AM, Xenomit wrote:

At 11/23/13 01:39 AM, Luer wrote: Laser weapons are real????

Dude

They have been since like, the early 2000's

And prototypes for them have been around since the 90's

Oh really Mr. Know-It-All? Yeah? Maybe by 2050, you can stick a lightsaber up your ass.

you pretentious twat.

[Ericho]

I read an article on (guess what?) Cracked and it basically said that laser weapons would not work well because people would be able to see them coming, unlike bullets. Granted, they were talking more about laser guns, and a larger laser would really only have to be used once, which would be enough to cause a lot of damage.