The US Air Force has reported a successful test of a laser weapons system that effectively shot down several airborne missiles.
The trial took place on 23 April at the White Sands testing area in New Mexico, where the system downed the projectiles using so-called Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD).
The technology is currently operated from the ground, but the finalised version of the system is expected to be fitted onto aircraft.
The U.S. Air Force has revealed that a ground-based surrogate for a laser weapon system that could protect American fighter jets and other aircraft from incoming threats in the future has successfully shot down multiple air-launched missiles in a test. pic.twitter.com/JGruJbH1Na
— IndoPacific_SCS_info (@IndoPac_Info) 4 мая 2019 г.
The weapon is supposed to ensure the safety of US Air Force fighter aircraft and be able to intercept air-to-air and ground-to-air missiles.
