A laser weapon capable of destroying tanks is in development: what is known

The Office signed a 12. 9 million Australian dollars ($ 8. 74 million) with Qinetiq, which provides for the development and production of a laser defense prototype that the military will be able to use in various combat conditions. The company will work on the project in conjunction with the Government Group of Defense Science and Technology (DSTG). High -energy lasers are one of the advanced new technologies in which the military see the future development of weapons systems.

The idea of ​​a weapon that can affect several goals at the speed of light is very attractive because it can work autonomously and does not require expensive ammunition, only access to electricity is enough. Some countries, such as the United States, UK, Russia and China, are already planning to use powerful lasers to combat drones, missiles, hypersonic weapons and other threats, preferably air.

According to New Atlas, the Australian authorities were more ambitious - the Ministry of Defense in the plan of the forces structure for 2020 indicated that the laser program should give an army weapon capable of striking armored vehicles, including major combat tanks. The most powerful laser weapon in the world is the Lockheed Martin system, generating a 300 kW beam. This is enough to destroy many threats, but UAVs, rockets and planes are much worse than tanks that have heavy multilayer armor.

A more powerful laser means the modernization of the entire weapons system, including power source, alloyed fiber-optic coils that generate laser, focusing lenses, guidance system, beam compensators and other elements. The Australian Ministry of Defense emphasized that Qinetiq is a "world leader" in the field of research and technology in the field of powerful lasers.