To be deployed in October 2013 in USS Ponce, operational from 2014.

Other candidate to employ it: LCS, now it's clear why ...

Laser range: 1 or 2 nm , perhaps up to 10 nm in years to come ....

After the range data, I think we don't need more comments ...

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R41526.pdf

I don't see this development as in the same class of JSF or LCS.

 

Ponce is now a test platform, and like it or not, directed energy is the wave of the future (no pun intended).

 

Perfecting the use of a laser for defence in the maritime environment is something that I will definitely be watching.

I fear we've watched it for years and the result is ... 1 or 2 nm range.

I fear we've watched it for years and the result is ... 1 or 2 nm range.

 

Hence the role of a testbed.

 

Guns, missiles, and torpedoes were all shorter ranged once, as well.

I fear we've watched it for years and the result is ... 1 or 2 nm range.

 

That's more than enough to deal with a speedboat or disable a cargo vessel, but it'll get better.