There was only one YAL-1A and it was scrapped by the Obama administration in 2014. (I was involved in the preliminary studies in the late 1970s, edited the winning proposal, and participated in classified mission studies toward the end of the program.)
Nothing is in the field, except a few naval systems for trials. Plenty of proving ground testing, however. Always remember that these are fair-weather weapons. The beam is stopped by clouds or smoke. (YAL-1A operated above the clouds against targets that were also above the clouds.)
There were no directed energy weapons used to set forest fires. A simple kitchen match is adequate. Don't propose the wildly extravagant unlikelihood when the prosaic commonplace will serve the purpose.
I guess you didn't read my credentials, e.g., concerning YAL-1A. DEWs are infrared weapons, not UV. First of all, there are no really efficient UV lasers. Secondly, UV is scattered by the atmosphere more so than daytime blue light. Whatever he thought he "caught" wasn't a laser weapon.
Beam weapons have NOT been around for a long time. Name me any that have been fielded. Plenty have been in development or tested, however, since the mid 1970s (that was at the beginning of my career). Even the YAL-1A only made it to a successful target engagement test. I have been in this field for most of my 40-year career, and you are talking through your hat. Ever been zapped by a laser? I have. It left a printed word on the back of my hand.
People are not necessarily stupid. But you are busting for a gold star.
There was only one YAL-1A and it was scrapped by the Obama administration in 2014. (I was involved in the preliminary studies in the late 1970s, edited the winning proposal, and participated in classified mission studies toward the end of the program.)
Nothing is in the field, except a few naval systems for trials. Plenty of proving ground testing, however. Always remember that these are fair-weather weapons. The beam is stopped by clouds or smoke. (YAL-1A operated above the clouds against targets that were also above the clouds.)
There were no directed energy weapons used to set forest fires. A simple kitchen match is adequate. Don't propose the wildly extravagant unlikelihood when the prosaic commonplace will serve the purpose.
I guess you didn't read my credentials, e.g., concerning YAL-1A. DEWs are infrared weapons, not UV. First of all, there are no really efficient UV lasers. Secondly, UV is scattered by the atmosphere more so than daytime blue light. Whatever he thought he "caught" wasn't a laser weapon.
Beam weapons have NOT been around for a long time. Name me any that have been fielded. Plenty have been in development or tested, however, since the mid 1970s (that was at the beginning of my career). Even the YAL-1A only made it to a successful target engagement test. I have been in this field for most of my 40-year career, and you are talking through your hat. Ever been zapped by a laser? I have. It left a printed word on the back of my hand.
People are not necessarily stupid. But you are busting for a gold star.