
Originally Posted by
VDX
... the biggest problem with lasers as counter-weapon - if the target is shielded with a reflecting hull (could be a really thin galvanic gold-coating or green paint with a green laser), then the lasers don't have the time to damage it enough, befoer it leaves the 'active' range or hits the target :-/
At those kind of power levels you would need a VERY smooth precision rocket nose mirror that had multi layer coatings at the wavelength of the laser. Any imperfection will deteriorate quickly.
I'm pretty sure the boys at Lockheed thought of that and it wasn't considered a show stopper.
Remember that is like 10,000w in about an inch at 1.5 Km.. Lotts-o-watts-o!
chad
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.