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Northrop Grumman Death Star Lasers Are Weapons-Grade, Could Be Out in 2008
Posted by Adrian Covert at 10:40 AM on September 3, 2008
Wired's Danger Room blog is spot on in comparing Northrop Grumman's upcoming solid state laser system to the Death Star. Promised to arrive before the end of 2008, and far earlier than Boeing's 25kW laser, it's supposed to have 100 kilowatts of power (SERIOUS pew pew action) and make use of multiple, less powerful lasers to form one giant one (see also: Voltron).
Northrop Grumman calls the individual components "laser chains," and say they've managed to successfully link two of them together (out of eight). Moreover, they have them running at peak power (30kW) for 5 minutes continuously and 40 minutes non continuously. Wired writes that a laser of this calibre should be able to knock mortars and rockets out of the sky.
Once thought to be significantly less powerful, electric lasers have progressed to the point that they're close to being a suitable chemical laser alternative. Not only that, they're also much safer in real world scenarios, evil villains notwithstanding. With Northrop Grumman assuring the Pentagon these will be ready by the end of the year, I'm getting kinda excited. [Danger Room]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
OCGuy
Posted 11:15 AM 3/9/08
Don't forget: Always check your optics.
OCGuy
thegreyjedi
Posted 11:11 AM 3/9/08
It's all fine and good in a capital size weapon like this, but where's the handheld versions?
thegreyjedi
se.blackheart
Posted 11:11 AM 3/9/08
so, this thing would be good for accentuating Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon"?
se.blackheart
scrag
Posted 11:04 AM 3/9/08
The purpose isn't really the scientific exploration of what can and can't pew. The purpose is to get some video of it and watch it pew in slow motion.
We basically need to get one of these in the hands of Tom Dickson.
scrag
Charging_Mooses
Posted 11:01 AM 3/9/08
@Adrian Covert: but what cant pew? we need some variety! like a watermelon(that's a given), and some diamonds, etc...
Charging_Mooses
Adrian Covert
Posted 10:56 AM 3/9/08
@scrag: i can get down with that.
Adrian Covert
snakepliskin
Posted 10:56 AM 3/9/08
@Xavoc: I think you should get the nobel for this idea cause its fuckin awesome.
Really im hoping this will be enough to deter the aliens cause i dont want to have to use chuck norris on them. It'd get pretty ugly for them aliens.
snakepliskin
scrag
Posted 10:54 AM 3/9/08
So will we be replacing "Will It Blend?" with "Will It Pew?"
Please?
scrag
AllThingsWireless
Posted 10:53 AM 3/9/08
I say use this weapon to take out certain annoying world leaders with 'laser' accuracy.
:D
While your at it, I have a certain annoying coworker who could definitely be removed from the gene pool prior to a natural demise.
AllThingsWireless
MrBlahBlah
Posted 10:50 AM 3/9/08
we're doomed :(
MrBlahBlah
baglunch
Posted 10:50 AM 3/9/08
@ravedown: Because we want our lasers to have a warmer, less analytic sound?
baglunch
ravedown
Posted 10:46 AM 3/9/08
@Xavoc: you know...the perfect CRUST! the kind of PIZZA stone that makes a neopolitan pizza as opposed to say...a new york pizza, you know? CRUST!
ravedown
ravedown
Posted 10:44 AM 3/9/08
solid state? meh...vacuum tube ftw!
ravedown
Xavoc
Posted 10:42 AM 3/9/08
But can they harness this energy for good instead of evil? You know, like make it able to instantly cook a pizza perfectly?
Xavoc
BiZarRroBALlmeR
Posted 11:35 AM 3/9/08
But can it fix my near sightedness
BiZarRroBALlmeR
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
Posted 11:51 AM 3/9/08
@Xavoc: I heard that you can get this to focus on a giant jiffy pop popper, and make tons of popcorn. While not pizza, it is bar fare.
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
smartboydan needs to stop watching the Watchmen trailer
Posted 11:51 AM 3/9/08
Captain Planet[Destroyer]?
smartboydan needs to stop watching the Watchmen trailer
mruler360
Posted 11:40 AM 3/9/08
Deathstar lazr ftw noobs!
mruler360
Beryllium
Posted 12:16 PM 3/9/08
I simply cannot wait to witness the power of a fully-operational 8-laser chain death star cannon.
Beryllium
moogoescow
Posted 12:29 PM 3/9/08
@se.blackheart: Yes but you have to start the CD at the same time you start warming up the "laser chains" otherwise it doesnt sync right.
moogoescow
Woden501
Posted 12:38 PM 3/9/08
So... what happens when you fire this thing into a diamond?
Woden501
weak_pig
Posted 1:14 PM 3/9/08
i got a couple of pimples and black heads that i need to pew off. U think the military can loan me the laser to give me a surgical make-over?
weak_pig
Voltron's Underwear
Posted 1:07 PM 3/9/08
is this the one they used in 'spies like us'?
Voltron's Underwear
impliedsurprise
Posted 1:40 PM 3/9/08
so could you shoot someone from space and literally vaporize them? i would pay to see that.
impliedsurprise
SgtToastie
Posted 2:08 PM 3/9/08
Never thought I'd get to live in the age of laser warfare....Now we just need to learn how to use wormholes for space travel and we're set!
SgtToastie
wezelboy
Posted 1:57 PM 3/9/08
This is how they will burn the man next year.
wezelboy
N@tedog
Posted 2:20 PM 3/9/08
So that annoying Lenovo commercial during the Olympics will be reality sooner than later.
N@tedog
whiteknight
Posted 4:29 PM 3/9/08
@scrag: Like the man said. When can we "Pew" the pizza?
whiteknight
rrwakc
Posted 5:52 PM 3/9/08
Aren't all light weapons banned by Geneve Convention, whith all the weapons that can couse blindnes, and when laser reflects from atmosphere it certanly is capble of doing to houndreds of people.
rrwakc
bloatboy
Posted 9:08 PM 3/9/08
All light weapons are not banned by the Geneva Convention Protocol IV - [www.icrc.org]
Ones designed to permanently blind people on purpose are banned for use by signatories to this protocol. Ones which could cause blindness by accidental use or reflection are specifically not banned. Ones which cause temporary blindness would also not be banned.
Ones that just incinerate stuff, aaaaawwww yeah! That's what I'm talkin' about!
bloatboy
Bob1967
Posted 9:34 PM 3/9/08
Yes but can they turn it into a light sabre?
Bob1967
rentahero1
Posted 9:28 PM 3/9/08
But who'll form the head?
Aw heck. I'll form the head!
rentahero1
Gervy
Posted 10:25 PM 3/9/08
When are they strapping these onto sharks?
Gervy
dufus
Posted 10:50 PM 3/9/08
what the heck will they power these with on the battlefield? who's out there carting around a 100kw power supply?
dufus
fluidexistence
Posted 11:12 PM 3/9/08
@Git Em SteveDave is starlost:
Thank God, I feared I would be the one forced to make the dated Real Genius reference.
"And Ken, from now on, stop playing with yourself."
"It IS God!"
fluidexistence
lldsandsll
Posted 10:59 PM 3/9/08
pew! pew! pew! tutututututu!!!!!!! KAPLOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
lldsandsll
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 10:59 PM 3/9/08
Yes, but have they figured out that its better to have a closed septic system for organic waste and an onboard metal recycling/reclamation plant for scrap?
Because if the GALACTIC EMPIRE had put that in its DEATH STAR, Captain Tightpants' rescue of Princess Leia would have been doomed from the start.
Which reminds me - Han Solo is a douchebag.
Leia's planet - including her parents, family, friends, and people - had just been destroyed; yet for months, Solo insisted on mocking her title and pouring salt on what had to be a deep psychic wound. Imagine saying to a Darfuri "Hey buddy, how's the weather in Sudan? Making any vacation plans for Sudan this year?"
C'mon, Captain Tightpants - you're supposed to be a lovable rogue, not a horse's ass. Lay off the "Your Worshipfulness" crap and let Leia get some closure.
OMG! Ponies!
pmathews
Posted 11:32 PM 3/9/08
Yeah, and how long before This becomes a cat toy...
pmathews
amillians
Posted 11:28 PM 3/9/08
@Gervy:
Whoa, there. This is in beta. They are still working on using ill-tempered, mutated sea bass.
amillians
pmathews
Posted 11:25 PM 3/9/08
@pmathews:
pew pew pew
pmathews
pmathews
Posted 11:21 PM 3/9/08
Dang it, everybody already took all the good references...
pmathews
captain slow
Posted 12:06 AM 4/9/08
David Blaine is going to have them light his cigarette from space just to show how accurate it was. I never did like him so much, oh well.
captain slow
godwhacker
Posted 12:28 AM 4/9/08
enterprise d > northrop grumman
godwhacker
lilaliendog
Posted 12:51 AM 4/9/08
@scrag: sure thing
lilaliendog
Mr.SithNinja
Posted 1:31 AM 4/9/08
@snakepliskin: I agree. There should be a Nobel Prize for excellence in the area of Fucking Awesomeness.... That would be fucking awesome unto it's self....
Mr.SithNinja
sharmanova
Posted 1:52 AM 4/9/08
I want sharks with these fricking laser beams.
sharmanova
DeusExMach
Posted 2:05 AM 4/9/08
...Weird... Northrop Grumman has been scouting me for weeks, apparently. Something about a "12-month contract job" doing electrical component assembly... I wonder if the two are related...
DeusExMach
theblackdog
Posted 3:17 AM 4/9/08
Oh, and I'm so buying this shirt for when they start using these lasers
[guapadesign.com]
theblackdog
theblackdog
Posted 3:16 AM 4/9/08
Oh No! Look out, it's a ray gun, pyew pyew pyew!
theblackdog
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
Posted 4:01 AM 4/9/08
@fluidexistence: Nothing beats the Jello exchange.
Besides, it was hot and I was hungry.
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
aec007
Posted 5:29 AM 4/9/08
- How powerful is it Commander?
- We can PEW the Will-it-Blend? Blendtech® Blender, General.
- Now, this is some serious shit Commander. Deploy! Deploy!
aec007
GlazedDonut2186
Posted 5:23 AM 4/9/08
...That things operational!
(Sorry for the potential double-post, by the way).
GlazedDonut2186
GlazedDonut2186
Posted 5:22 AM 4/9/08
...That things operational!
GlazedDonut2186
TheLostVikings
Posted 10:16 AM 4/9/08
Behold! The LAZER-CHAIN-SAW!
Any zombies in the audience better start running.
TheLostVikings