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Air Force Study Backs Laser Demo On AC-130 Gunship

Air Force Study Backs Laser Demo On AC-130 Gunship
An AC-130. Photo: U.S. Air Force

A study by the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (AFSAB) has found that solid-state laser weapons are mature enough to be tested on aircraft, such as an AC-130 gunship.The findings could boost plans by Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to mount a laser on an AC-130 and conduct a demonstration in 2020.“The study found that there are operationally useful power levels that will fit within the size, weight and power budget available on that platform,” said Werner Dahm,…

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