ADAM High Energy Laser Counter-Rocket Demonstration

The Lockheed Martin Area Defense Anti-munitions (ADAM) prototype laser weapon system successfully destroys a rocket target flying on a wire at a range of 1.6 kilometers on Dec. 10, 2012, replicating similar demonstrations conducted earlier this year. Acquisition, tracking and destruction of the target took approximately three seconds. For more information, go to: www.lockheedmartin.com/adam

• Category

  Science & Technology

[densityduckk]

Putting mirrors on a rocket to protect against lasers is like putting a spring on your chest to protect against bullets.

[GidiXD]

nothing beats Iron Dome

[feartulove]

IMA FIRIN MAH LAZOR!!

[Robert Aldrich]

For those of you that don't know, everything is reflective/mirror, otherwise you don't see it. Unless you are looking directly at alight source, everything you see is a reflection. The rocket in the demo is reflective or mirror like already. Putting mirrors or heat shields on a rocket will weigh it down and make perform poorly.

Also I think the application is short range rockets like Katusha not ICBMs. This is like the Iron Dome system

[Sinsearach]

depends on the quality & complexity of the reflecting substance

quite an ignorant and naive analogy there

[Jakalwarrior]

Is this a chemical laser? if so, how long does it take and how much does it cost to reload?

[Alvaro Luis Bustamante]

Seems to work with thermal based tracking (with the heat dissipated by the rocket) to detect the missile and track its trajectory. Then point the laser to detected target being tracked continuously (i would like to see how the tracking performs under different zoom levels and rocket turns). Its amazing how the PTZ mechanism runs so smooth

[thanos danellis]

guys shut up with greece and turkey lets make peace

[mikgazine]

While the rocket has been destroyed, I heard that the rocket got better eye view after been hit with the laser ;

[BRUTALsniperO]

Duck u auto correct fucking say things I don't want to say

[HaroldHoltCantSwim]

Mirrors aren't perfectly reflective. Put enough energy on it and the surface will burn and turn opaque.

What you want to do is coat that fucker with a phenolic carbon ablator and spin it up to a few thousand rpm.

[TechnoDelta]

thumbs up for Lockheed Martin!