Lockheed Martin Develops Laser Weapon System for Tanks and Other Vehicles
In tests conducted last month at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, USA, the Athena laser weapon system developed by Lockheed Martin successfully shot down five Outlaw unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The newly released video by Lockheed Martin shows the moment fire erupts from the tails of the UAVs in flight before they crash to the ground due to loss of control and stability.
Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) have collaborated to develop the Athena laser weapon system for equipping tanks and other vehicles. In the future, this system may be installed on military aircraft, helicopters, and naval ships.
In the future, this system may be installed on military aircraft, helicopters, and naval ships.
According to Lockheed Martin, Athena utilizes advanced laser beam control technology and the ALADIN (Accelerated Laser Demonstration Initiative) fiber laser system to optimize effectiveness and strike capability.
In 2015, Lockheed Martin also used a 30kW fiber laser weapon to disable a truck from a distance of 1.6 kilometers.
