High-powered, vehicle portable laser weapons have been perused by the military for many years. Only recently with the development of the YAL-1A Airborne Laser has an aircraft mounted laser weapon been produced. However, the YAL-1A laser is mounted on a 747 jumbo jet, much too large for practicality on a fighter aircraft like the F-35. The YAL is a chemical laser designed to shoot down ballistic missiles. The ultimate goal is to develop an electric fired laser that would be small enough to mount on a small aircraft or ground vehicle. But, once the issue of size is figured out, a laser weapon on the JSF would be a dominant force. Because the weapon would fire at the speed of light, once the target is locked on it cannot take evasive action. Depending on the power source used, the laser cannon could have virtually limitless ammunition and if nothing else, a more powerful and longer-lasting alternative to the gun. Based on the current development, the laser would probably not be the only armament used. It would complement the missile stock that can be used over far greater ranges. The process of firing such a weapon would involve locking on to the target much like with missiles and then holding the laser on the target for a couple seconds while the energy super heats the airframe or ground vehicle.
YAL-1A is the first airborne laser that could evolve into the technology needed to make lasers small enough to mount on fighter aircraft like the F-35…
Raytheon has already developed a ship-mounted laser weapon that in this video shoots down an unmanned aircraft in a test. The company hopes to add this weapon to its Phalanx Gatling gun already in service.
You will see a dark figure that is the aircraft at 0:03 begin to be illuminated by the laser. At 0:11 it catches flame until at 0:19 it explodes and rapidly descends before at 0:32 it hits the water…
