By David Stillwell

In an article in TIME by Mark Thompson, the details of the USS Ponce activities in the Persian Gulf emerge. In what is a first for the Navy and the US Military, an energy based weapon was successfully tested and in the process the face of war and national defence changed.

Growing up, laser weapons were a thing of comic books, and special effects from movies such as Star Wars. Today, the US Navy has stepped forward where others have not traveled and unleashed a new weapon that may make fighter jets obsolete.

Part of the testing of this weapon was to destroy a small drone while it flew through the sky. That test was most successful and should be an indication of what this weapon is capable of doing. For full details, read Mark Thompson’s piece. The real question is how adaptable is this weapon to other fighting venues. A laser is not like a bullet where the damage is from a single piece of lead. The damage from a laser can be like a knife where all along the laser beam damage can occur. That makes it possible to set up laser-like nets that keep the sky clear of airplanes. It also means that ground troops could be vulnerable to slashing type laser fire.

What we are witnessing is the changing of how wars may be fought. Are smaller versions possible? Time will tell. In the meantime, hats off the US Navy for advancing technology and making dreams a reality.

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