Page 29 - Laser Weapon News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The drone-killer. >> reporter: in a sometimes hostile waters of the persian gulf looms the u.s. navy's first, in fact, the world's first, active laser weapon. the lws, an acronym for laser weapon system, is not science fiction, it is not experimental. it is deployed on board the "uss poncee" amphibious transport ship, ready to be fired today and every day at targets by captain christopher wells and his crew. cnn was granted exclusive access to a live-fire test of the laser. >> it's more precise than a bullet. it's not like some other weapons we have throughout the military where it's only good...

U.s. navy's first -- in fact, the world's first active laser weapon. the l.a.s. is not sicience fiction but it's really to be fired at targets today by captain christopher wells and his crew. cnn was granted exclusive access to a test of the laser. >> it's more precise than a bullet. it's not like other weapons that we have where it's only good against air contacts or surface contacts or against ground-based targets. it's a very versatile weapon. >> reporter: l.a.w.s. begins with a weapon that moves by definition at the speed of light. for comparison, that is 50,000 times the speed of an incom...

Cnn's chief national correspondent jim sciutto investigates the new weapons being built to disable or destroy threats thousands of miles above us and the cripples consequences for a nation relying on space. watch. >> in the persian gulf, an instantaneous burst of energy destroys targets. first on the surface. then in the air. its deadly firepower moving literally at the speed of light. obliterating its target, the name says, like a long distance blow torch. this is the u.s. pill tear's first operational laser weapon. and today it is deploying to defeat incoming threats at sea. could it some ...

Actually deployed weapons in space? >> that is what the sus watching right now. we know they have tested laser weapon, directed energy weapons that can be fired from here on earth into space and damage satellites or. but they have also begun to maneuver satellites that have the ability to disrupt u.s. space assets, or even just ramming into them like a bullet and destroying them forever. and the chinese have one with an call a kidnapper satellite.hey - u.s. watching this very closely. the debate for the u.s. is whether it takes the space of deploying weapons in space. >> what surprised you mos...

Blow torch. this is the u.s. military's first operational laser weapon and today it is deployed to defeat incoming threats at sea. could it some day be used for targets in space? >> firing lasers in space? >> potentially. yeah. >> it's remarkable. >> when you get into this. you get into all sorts of other classification levels i'm not cleared into. >> reporter: this would require a major strategic shift for the u.s. deploying weapons for use in space. and so, many took notice when in april this year deputy defense secretary bob work vowed the u.s. will strike back if attacked in space. strike ...