Boeing Laser Avenger: Humvee with frikkin' laser on its head
Boeing wants more government contracts, and it thinks lasers are the way to get them. The company's Laser Avenger system is something it whipped together in eight short months, and it's pretty impressive. Mounted on a retrofitted anti-aircraft Humvee, the setup is being demonstrated as a way to zap IEDs from a distance, neutralizing them before the convoys and patrols they target ever rumble by. Its 1kw laser beam causes near-instantaneous detonation of the munitions its been used on so far, and Boeing's also hinting that it might just work as an anti-aircraft weapon, too. Trucks with laser guns might be a lot closer than you think.
[Source: Popular Mechanics via Instapundit]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
focker 2:59AM (6/15/2008)
I bought a green laser pointer form http://www.highlasers.com.
Pretty good. Awesome!
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Bananas 10:37AM (11/16/2007)
AWESOME!!! I sure hope it works, since IEDs are the worst!
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Jackattak 3:23PM (11/19/2007)
Er, these are nothing new. Avenger HMMWV's have been used for nearly a decade by the US Army at least. I've not only bore witness to them myself since '97 but I've actually seen them in action and they are nowhere close to new.
rar 10:38AM (11/16/2007)
Is it just me or does that hummer look like it is maxed out on it weight capaticty?
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nissanfreak87 10:53AM (11/16/2007)
you'd be surprised how much they can carry, and I'm pretty sure the new ones (more heavily armored) weigh more than this one.
500 5:39PM (11/16/2007)
Does look a little top-heavy. I'd like to see that thing perform in a slalom! This is just a prototype; hopefully future generations will be more compact.
ello 9:41PM (11/16/2007)
I don't know why my earlier post was deleted but I guess thats what freedom of speech in the police country of USA means today. Anyway, anyone who is aware of the amount of money US spends on military will know that USA spends on military more than UK, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, China COMBINED. Now, if those funds are mismanaged then thats the military government problem because in my book they get plenty of dough to spend, but if they want to start simultaneous wars then not even US economy can withstand the spending over the long term. US has it's own internal problems, fix them first here.
Chad 10:41AM (11/16/2007)
Love the article title.
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Will 11:01AM (11/16/2007)
Hahaha, me too.
iamhoff 11:38AM (11/16/2007)
Austin Powers FTW!
nissanfreak87 10:43AM (11/16/2007)
man, I love Boeing! Having a good friend in Iraq right now, seeing this technology put to use would be amazing, it would be great regardless. Too bad the Senate can't agree on anything. Honestly, the Dems sit around yelling for Bush's head, and they won't even fund our troops, who need new tech to stay safe, without throwing some stupid legalize illegal immigration or bring all the troops home yesterday stipulation on it. I pretty much hope none of the same senators get re-elected, they've done absolutely nothing as of late.
Dr. Evil would be proud of Boeing's ability to place lasers on things heads, now for Sharks
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Mr. Oak 11:32AM (11/16/2007)
"Honestly, the Dems sit around yelling for Bush's head, and they won't even fund our troops, who need new tech to stay safe, without throwing some stupid legalize illegal immigration or bring all the troops home yesterday stipulation on it."
So, now we blame the Dems for Georges's monumental F@#K-UP.
They only way to end this dumb assed war is to cut the funds.
** 8 year US Navy verteran who actually server in the Middle-East twice, though not in this idiotic war.
Tagg 11:41AM (11/16/2007)
It takes two parties to tango in this country, so the both screwed up.
nissanfreak87 11:38AM (11/16/2007)
I'm just saying our troops deserve funding, and they deserve it now, Washington doesn't need to screw around trying to progress their personal agenda while our troops have old technology and Body Armor.
**20 year old Design students with 5 friend in Iraq and Afghanistan, my opinions come from their input on things
Mr. Oak 12:03PM (11/16/2007)
Dude, you love your friends? Vote to end the war. It was dumb to begin with, and even dumber to continue.
There is only one guaranteed wat to end this, cut the funds. I have friends/shipamates and a relative over there too.
That aside: Our military is being stretched to it's breaking point. Last week, the US Airforce gorunded all 700+ F-15 Eagles. One crashed for no appearent reason. Structural fatiugue is the primary suspect.
None of the branches can meet recruitment quotas. The most reliable source of recruits, minorities and the impovrished are now refusing to sign up.
African Americans represent 13% of the population of this country, but make up 25% of the military, are being counselled against joining the military.
Veterans, myself included who at one time recommended military for our youts who were not going on to higher education, now advise them against it.
Don't believe that we have that kind of influence? Check with the different branches of the military.
Sean Flanagan 12:17PM (11/16/2007)
So Mr. Oak, do you wonder why there is structural fatigue? Or why the military is still using 30-year-old planes for combat? Or why our military is stretched? It's due to lack of funding. People like you who want funding cut off are putting our troops in danger because of crap like this. I'm sure when you sailed there were problems that couldn't be fixed because the funding had run out. Removing funding isn't going to magically make an occupation stop, or make equipment go away, or make our volunteers stop volunteering. All of these things need money to work, and calling for a cut-off is absurd.
jg 1:12PM (11/16/2007)
there's no funding because funding takes money, which means taxes and republicans will do anything to avoid raising taxes on the rich. They started two wars while cutting taxes yet we have to listen to people saying the dems have personal agendas which is why the wars aren't funded. I'm continuously amazed at the power of right wing radio. No matter what the issue, republicans had complete control of all three branches of the federal gov't for almost all of Bush's term in office yet its the dems fault that anything bad happened then.
PJ 5:40PM (11/16/2007)
The lack of proper funding and equipment is a lot older than the current Congress. Or, for that matter, the current president.
Defense spending has been horribly mismanaged for decades for reasons wide-ranging enough to make your face hurt. Blaming the Congress or the president is easier to get your head around, but it's like blaming your dean for California's educational deficiencies.
That said, the current administration hasn't helped matters by spreading our already-thin military to the breaking point in this misconceived war.
Donald 10:43AM (11/16/2007)
These might work better now. I know KITT found it effective against Goliath, but 20 years have passed, so its three shot limit has probably been overcome.
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Sean Flanagan 10:54AM (11/16/2007)
Man, this "laser" is awesome news! I just hope Congress can get it together to fund something like this for our men and women overseas. They probably won't because they're too busy arguing over which children should have free health care and how Turkey acted early last century to get anything done, but one can still hope. It amazes me that the President has nearly the lowest approval rating possible, yet Congress' rating is able to undercut his rating by a good 50%. Way to go, elected officials!
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