Martian2
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People keep talking about putting lasers on a sixth-generation fighter plane.
I don't think it will work. Here's why.
1. According to Fortune (see citation below), a laser is only 1/3 efficient. To achieve a one megawatt laser output, you need three megawatts of power input!
2. To focus a megawatt laser (like the Boeing ABL), you need two sets of huge optics. You need a tracking laser and a second firing laser. An additional problem is the constant fluctuation of air density. This makes it difficult to keep a beam focused on a target. This means wasted energy.
3. A laser weapon would require a big aircraft. This is bad for stealth. A large airplane means a larger RCS. China's compact-airframe Anjian (Dark Sword) Combat UAV would eat it alive.
4. In the thin upper atmosphere, the Boeing ABL could only achieve a 50 to 100 mile range. In the mid-atmosphere, you are probably looking at 50 miles maximum. Modern BVR missiles have greater range than 50 miles. This means a BVR missile has longer range than a laser.
5. No practical defense (aside from electronic countermeasure) can be placed on an aircraft to stop a kinetic kill by a missile. On the other hand, lots of defenses can be employed to defeat a laser. Countermeasures against a laser include spinning, mirror-like finish, heat tiles, ablative armor, etc.
As the Fortune article mentions, a laser weapon creates a new heat problem of infrared detection.
In conclusion, I don't think a laser weapon is practical. The downsides far outweigh the benefit. Sure, a solid-state laser is reloadable. However, there are too many problems and I still think a salvo of BVR missiles is more effective.
Here is how the showdown works.
a. Let's say a Northrop 6th gen fighter is approaching 3 Chinese Anjian UCAVs. The fighters are closing the distance between them.
b. The Northrop fighter cannot fire until it is within 50 miles of the Chinese Anjians.
c. However, the Chinese Anjians can fire their BVR missiles at where the Northrop fighter will be. Let's say the Chinese BVR missiles have a range of 66 miles. The BVR is traveling at Mach 4. The Northrop fighter is traveling at Mach 1.5. The Chinese Anjians can fire at a distance of almost 100 miles away and intercept the Northrop fighter at where it will be. Obviously, the Chinese BVR missiles would have to be stealthy to prevent the Northrop fighter from changing course.
The point is that a Chinese Anjian can "effectively" fire from 100 miles and intercept a Northrop fighter. The Northrop fighter is stuck with a range of only 50 miles. This means an Anjian equipped with stealthy BVR missiles is far superior to a Northrop laser-equipped fighter.
The instantaneous firing of a laser is a drawback in terms of range. It can't fire at where the enemy fighter will be. In contrast, a BVR missile can take advantage of the closing distance between itself and the enemy fighter. The enemy fighter is flying towards the intercept point of the BVR missile. This means a much greater "effective" range for the BVR missile.
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Northrop’s Proposed Fighter Jet is a Peek at the Future of Flight - Fortune
I don't think it will work. Here's why.
1. According to Fortune (see citation below), a laser is only 1/3 efficient. To achieve a one megawatt laser output, you need three megawatts of power input!
2. To focus a megawatt laser (like the Boeing ABL), you need two sets of huge optics. You need a tracking laser and a second firing laser. An additional problem is the constant fluctuation of air density. This makes it difficult to keep a beam focused on a target. This means wasted energy.
3. A laser weapon would require a big aircraft. This is bad for stealth. A large airplane means a larger RCS. China's compact-airframe Anjian (Dark Sword) Combat UAV would eat it alive.
4. In the thin upper atmosphere, the Boeing ABL could only achieve a 50 to 100 mile range. In the mid-atmosphere, you are probably looking at 50 miles maximum. Modern BVR missiles have greater range than 50 miles. This means a BVR missile has longer range than a laser.
5. No practical defense (aside from electronic countermeasure) can be placed on an aircraft to stop a kinetic kill by a missile. On the other hand, lots of defenses can be employed to defeat a laser. Countermeasures against a laser include spinning, mirror-like finish, heat tiles, ablative armor, etc.
As the Fortune article mentions, a laser weapon creates a new heat problem of infrared detection.
In conclusion, I don't think a laser weapon is practical. The downsides far outweigh the benefit. Sure, a solid-state laser is reloadable. However, there are too many problems and I still think a salvo of BVR missiles is more effective.
Here is how the showdown works.
a. Let's say a Northrop 6th gen fighter is approaching 3 Chinese Anjian UCAVs. The fighters are closing the distance between them.
b. The Northrop fighter cannot fire until it is within 50 miles of the Chinese Anjians.
c. However, the Chinese Anjians can fire their BVR missiles at where the Northrop fighter will be. Let's say the Chinese BVR missiles have a range of 66 miles. The BVR is traveling at Mach 4. The Northrop fighter is traveling at Mach 1.5. The Chinese Anjians can fire at a distance of almost 100 miles away and intercept the Northrop fighter at where it will be. Obviously, the Chinese BVR missiles would have to be stealthy to prevent the Northrop fighter from changing course.
The point is that a Chinese Anjian can "effectively" fire from 100 miles and intercept a Northrop fighter. The Northrop fighter is stuck with a range of only 50 miles. This means an Anjian equipped with stealthy BVR missiles is far superior to a Northrop laser-equipped fighter.
The instantaneous firing of a laser is a drawback in terms of range. It can't fire at where the enemy fighter will be. In contrast, a BVR missile can take advantage of the closing distance between itself and the enemy fighter. The enemy fighter is flying towards the intercept point of the BVR missile. This means a much greater "effective" range for the BVR missile.
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Northrop’s Proposed Fighter Jet is a Peek at the Future of Flight - Fortune
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