photo glavnoe.ua
In summer, the US Air Force will begin testing a laser that will be installed on an F-15 fighter.
This is reported by the Russian edition of "Voice of America".
In 2017, the Pentagon signed a contract with the company Lockheed Martin for the development of laser weapons. This program is called SHiELD (an acronym for "High-energy laser demonstration sample for self-defense"). The amount of the contract was $ 26 million.
The aircraft will be installed laser system with a capacity of about 50 kilowatts, which is designed to destroy drones and cruise missiles.
"We will start testing this summer, and flight tests - next summer. There are some technical problems that have yet to be solved. They mainly relate to size, weight and power, "said Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Jeff Stanley.
It is noted that these laser beams are invisible to the naked eye.
Focusing the laser beam on the target leads to its rapid heating from the inside, and then follows its fall or explosion.