High-powered military laser destroys truck from 1 mile away in ‘seconds’

[Geee]

Washington Times:

Lockheed Martin turned up the heat on its laser weapon technology and destroyed a truck from one mile away. The Maryland-based company’s test of the ATHENA laser weapon was the highest power ever recorded of a laser weapon of its type.

 

The Advanced Test High Energy Asset’s March 3 test destroyed its target in a “matter of seconds,” the company said in a statement. An image of the smoking vehicle accompanied its announcement.

 

“This test represents the next step to providing lightweight and rugged laser weapon systems for military aircraft, helicopters, ships and trucks,” said Keoki Jackson, chief technology officer of Lockheed Martin.

 

[Cyber_Liberty]

Paraphrased Dave Barry: It's remarkable we can now use a laser to vaporize a truck from over a mile away, and also use a laser to perform delicate eye surgery. Just so long as we don't forget to change the power setting from "Vaporize truck" to "perform eye surgery."