America's laser of death cleared for take-off
By Sean Rayment
(Filed: 17/02/2002)
AMERICA'S enemies will soon face a weapon, once
confined to the Star Wars films, that can bring death at
the speed of light.
The special operations AC-130 Spectre gunship,
whose conventional weaponry has been used to
devastating effect since the Vietnam War, is to be fitted
with a laser that can shoot down missiles, punch holes
in aircraft and knock out ground radar stations.
Despite the successful operations against Taliban and
al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan, the emergence of
asymmetric terrorist warfare - attacks such as
September 11 where the enemy is unseen - has led the
Pentagon to identify the need for a more sophisticated
and deadly weapons system.
The next generation gunship, codenamed AC-X and
nicknamed 'Son of Spectre' by US defence officials,
will carry all the weaponry already used on the
AC-130, including twin 20mm Vulcan cannon (capable
of firing 2,500 rounds per minute), 40mm Bofor cannon
(100 rounds per minute) and a 105mm Howitzer. Its
21st-century addition, however, will be its biggest
punch: a chemical oxygen iodine laser (Coil), capable
of carrying out lethal and non-lethal attacks.
The advantage of laser weapons is that they strike at
the speed of light. In the Coil, the power of a chemical
reaction is converted to laser energy, and the weapon
can carry on firing as long as its power source is intact.
Paul Wolfowitz, the US deputy defence secretary, has
given the go-ahead for the next-generation AC-130,
which includes full funding for the "integration of a
direct-energy weapon".
The Pentagon is yet to announce when the new
laser-equipped "Son of Spectre" will come into
operation, but it is understood…
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