htpow's blog
Russia will restart the high powered laser weapon program of Soviet era to put it into the modern war. Under the circumstance of laser weapons are highlighted by the United States and China, Russia make a decision to resume the Soviet Union military laser pointer program. However, it was only intended to be used in space, because it is too expensive to use as an air defense missile.
In 1973, the related 10000mw Laser weapons were tested for the first time. The person in charge of this project, Nicola Basov, finally won the Nobel prize for "basic research in the field of quantum electronics which led to the advent of the burning laser principle". Laser weapons were developed under his leading and these laser weaons reached a specail level that could destroy ballistic missiles easily. Terra-3 lasers were tested in Kazakhstan. At that time ,Soviet defense minister Andre Grechko visited the scene and witnessed how the laser weapons destroyed 5 coins kopecks.
The US Navy recently announced that a 300mw Laser weapon system named LaWS was deployed successfully, which have passed all tests. It has been on duty since December 2014. The power of the system is still very low. Russia's strategic and technical analysis center expert Cashin pointed out that the LaWS can only deal with small unmanned aerial vehicles or boats.
In addition, Alexander Prokhorov who had worked together with Nicola Basov developed high powered burning laser weapon. This carbon dioxide 100mw Laser weapon capable was so powerful that could destroy missiles and aircraft. At first, the device can not be moved, but after a series of successful trials, it could be moved freely, but the price was still stay expensive. Even so, the 2 projects kept receiving funding until the collapse of the Soviet union. After that, the Technology Department moved to Moscow, the test site and all the facilities remained in Kazakhstan after its independence. Today, the advanced military facilities have been turned into a piece of rubble,and can not be re-used.
