The advantages and huge potential of laser weapons are unquestionable, especially after the Navy deployed laser pointer weapons on the "Ponce" for the first time, the military optimistically declared that the laser weapon era "is finally coming."
Has the era of laser weapons really arrived? To determine whether a weapon has the significance of the times, at least it should have the characteristics of advancedness, uniqueness, deterrence, economy, applicability, and popularity. In other words, a new weapon can only be named to represent an era when it becomes the mainstream or deterrent of a period.
For example, the era of cold weapons and the era of hot weapons can be subdivided into naval gun era, jet era, missile era, and nuclear weapons era. Although laser weapons have certain characteristics that are representative of the times, they have not yet become mainstream weapons. Their performance and power are far lower than conventional weapons. Even if the cost of a single launch is considered low, the cost of early development and late deployment and installation is huge. In particular, the all-weather combat capability has not yet been formed, which is also the main reason why laser weapons cannot be installed for a long time. Therefore, at this stage, it is still too early to regard laser weapons as a mainstream weapon leading the times.
However, all countries in the world have seen the huge potential of laser weapons, so they are competing to be listed as the country's priority development of a new generation of weapons "hands-on" projects. Especially in the development of high-energy laser weapons, more attention is paid to system development. Space-based laser weapons are an important component of long-term global missile defense capabilities, and can destroy missiles and space satellites in the atmosphere on a global scale.
Ground-based anti-satellite laser weapons mainly use high-energy green laser pointer to destroy photoelectric sensing equipment on satellites. Airborne laser weapon is a theater defense laser weapon, mainly used to destroy theater ballistic missiles, low-orbit satellites, and fighter jets. The task of tactical high-energy laser weapons is to intercept short-range rockets, cruise missiles, anti-radiation missiles and various aircraft. Among them, the more mature "SkyGuard" mobile tactical high-energy laser air defense weapon system of Northrop Grumman is currently in use. Israel and other countries successfully deployed.
At present, directed energy weapons represented by laser weapons are becoming a strong driving force leading the leapfrog development of weapons. In this regard, Herbert Carlisle, commander of the Air Force Combat Command, believes that the mixed use of lasers and traditional weapons will "completely change the space of war in the next 20 to 25 years." It is foreseeable that with economic development and technological progress, laser weapons will get rid of various constraints and will surely become a mainstream weapon and lead the times in the near future. By then, laser weapons will have a profound impact on future wars and the rules of war.