The Air Force Wants Laser Communication Pods To Securely Link Fighter Aircraft With Satellites
Laser communications pods could give fighter aircraft virtually unjammable high-bandwidth satellite communications.
Laser communications pods could give fighter aircraft virtually unjammable high-bandwidth satellite communications.
The Air Force Research Laboratory argues that we’ve hit a tipping point with directed energy technologies, bringing many science fiction concepts closer to reality.
Israel’s airborne laser program aims to add to its multi-layered air defense system that is increasingly tasked with countering low-end drone attacks.
The much-delayed SHiELD program is finally coming together, with official plans to deliver the finished demonstrator pod later this year.
One of the Model 401 demonstrators is now outfitted with a peculiar ventral pod that has a huge air intake and its own exhaust.
The high-altitude unmanned test aircraft will supposedly lead to an operational system used to destroy ballistic missiles during their boost phase.
You can think of the defunct YAL-1 as the “analogue” version of the Airborne Laser concept, with an unmanned high-flying drone sporting a solid state laser being the digital version.