From New Mind.

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From the legendary Archimedes Heat Ray to multi-billion dollar airborne platforms, we trace the incredible history, the immense challenges, and the recent breakthroughs that have finally put functional laser weapons into the hands of soldiers on the front lines and how these revolutionary systems are changing the economics of modern warfare, offering a virtually unlimited magazine to counter the growing threat of drones, rockets, and missiles.

INTRO
We begin with the ancient concept of light as a weapon, from the legendary Archimedes Heat Ray to early 20th-century concepts like Nazi "engine-stopping" x-ray beams. The story of the modern laser weapon starts with the 1960 breakthrough by Theodore Maiman, who operated the first functioning laser.

EARLY APPLICATIONS
Discover the laser’s first steps into the world, from civilian uses in welding and cutting to its initial military roles in rang finding and targeting. We cover the first direct-damage use with controversial laser blinding weapons, which led to the 1995 international protocol, and look at the first high-power experiments like the 130 kW gas dynamic CO2 laser and the megawatt-class MIRACL.

THE CHALLENGES OF A LASER WEAPON
Creating a functional laser weapon is incredibly difficult. We break down the major hurdles: line-of-sight limitations, atmospheric effects like turbulence, and the phenomenon of "thermal blooming," where the beam itself heats the air and loses focus. We also explore the challenges of dwell time, countermeasures like reflective coatings, and the fragility of early systems.

EARLY MODERN DEVELOPMENT (SOLID-STATE LASERS)
Learn about the two tracks of modern development. Industry-based tactical systems like Boeing’s Avenger and Raytheon’s LADS utilized commercial thin-disk and fiber lasers. At the same time, government programs like Northrop Grumman’s 100 kW JHPSSL pushed the power limits. For all solid-state lasers, however, one problem remained: cooling.

STRATEGIC PROGRAMS (CHEMICAL LASERS)
To achieve megawatt-class power for strategic defense, scientists turned to chemical lasers. We explore the two most ambitious programs: the C-130 based Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) and the legendary Airborne Laser (ABL), a Boeing 747 designed to shoot down ballistic missiles. Despite its historic success in 2010, the $5 billion ABL project was ultimately canceled, marking a major turning point in DEW development.

THE TACTICAL REVOLUTION (MODERN DEPLOYED SYSTEMS)
With the end of the giant strategic programs, the focus shifted to practical, tactical lasers. This new generation of DEWs is now in active service. We cover the Navy’s LaWS, HELIOS, and ODIN systems, the Army’s Stryker-mounted DE M-SHORAD, and powerful international systems like Israel’s Iron Beam and the UK’s DragonFire.

CONCLUSION: A NEW ERA OF WARFARE
The age of experimentation is over. We conclude by examining how these new systems have finally found their role on the 21st-century battlefield, providing a cost-effective defense against modern threats and fundamentally changing the economics of warfare. A single shot can cost just a few dollars, compared to tens of thousands for a missile.

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