There's a full explanation of these things at the link.

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/04/09/v ... ckin-cool/

For now, just have a look.



LaWS (Laser Weapons Systems) have been around for a few years or so, but mostly tests. What appears to be new is they're now operational. They're putting them on ships in at least the Persian Gulf.

   

I like the description i've heard in other articles, "A Blowtorch with endless fuel".

   

Is it too much to ask for ships armed with frickin' lasers?

   

The first people to use lasers in combat were the British, during the Falklands War in 1982. They were fitted to various Royal Navy warships to hinder low-level Argentinian air attacks.

It's about time the USN got with the times.

   

Of course it was the British...




...they were very effective too.

   

I think there may be a difference between using "laser dazzlers" to temporarily blind an opponent, and using lasers to sink small craft, and knock planes out of the sky.

   

Very neat. But from what I've read, they're not quite powerful enough to knock out a missle or aircraft.

   

I know this is slightly off-topic, but this was in the links after I watched the PR video and I thought it was pretty cool;