.. but can we fit them on the head of a shark??

[Double Trouble]

This is pretty cool. I know this has been around for a while, but it's apparently new to the application on the ocean and such.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13033437

I wonder how long until truly effective laser deterrents make missiles and rockets obsolete.

 

[zsdersw]

Yes, lasers are certainly getting close to being useful as a serious weapon.. or weapon deterrent. The key issue is how long the target must be exposed to the laser to be effective. It's going to take a lot more power to get an instantaneously destructive beam.

 

[zsdersw]

As for the news itself, set your phasers to "stunning".

 

[Fern]

Waste of a damn fine boat motor.

I think it might be too hard to keep the laser focused on fast moving target long enough to set it on fire.

Wonder what's going on with the Navy's rail gun?

Fern

 

[jonks]

I expect more spectacular explosions for my $100B research dollars.

 

[irishScott]

Waste of a damn fine boat motor.

I think it might be too hard to keep the laser focused on fast moving target long enough to set it on fire.

Wonder what's going on with the Navy's rail gun?

Fern

Maybe if you're tailing a somali pirate ship? Lol.

 

[werepossum]

I expect more spectacular explosions for my $100B research dollars.

Indeed. How many times are we attacked by stationary outboard inflatables? And how many ways do we already have to defeat stationary outboard inflatables?

While I have no doubt this technology could be leveraged to protect against attacks by everything from billboards to dry firewood, I'll be impressed when it can take out something we currently have a hard time defeating, like fast sea skimming missiles. Or even non-stationary outboard inflatables.

 

[irishScott]

Indeed. How many times are we attacked by stationary outboard inflatables? And how many ways do we already have to defeat stationary outboard inflatables?

While I have no doubt this technology could be leveraged to protect against attacks by everything from billboards to dry firewood, I'll be impressed when it can take out something we currently have a hard time defeating, like fast sea skimming missiles. Or even non-stationary outboard inflatables.

From all appearances it's headed that way. I'd say this is an important milestone though. Keep in mind even this probably wouldn't have been possible 20 years ago.