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 is working on a new classified bomber prototype for the Air Force, at an estimated cost—according to their financial statements—of US$2 billion. Apparently, the first version will require human/clone/Cylon pilots, with a high-endurance unmanned model possibly following after that. According to military industry magazine DTI, there is a high probability that the New Generation Bomber—concept above—will be following the success of the X-47B unmanned bomber aircraft.
I went to the Dubai Air Show this week, got into a Typhoon fighter cockpit, tickled the most powerful gas turbine in the planet, explored the belly of the biggest cargo plane in the world and jumped aboard the fastest turboprop plane ever. All quite amazing and coming in video soon to Giz. However, one of the things that really amazed me were all the toys displayed around the floor in Boeing, BAE, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and hundreds of aerospace and defence companies’ booths. If there’s anything these big boys like more than their big deadly toys are the models. And I’m not talking about the blonde Russian booth babes. Check the mega-gallery after the jump.
