Erik Sofge, Popular Mechanics
Looking up in Iraq is still a dangerous proposition. Mortar blasts continue to penetrate—with rare deadly force—the Green Zone and other protected areas because militias can find them, like rockets and other indirect-fire weapons, on the cheap, and fire them from shoot-and-hide platforms.
In an attempt to shore up its safe havens in the war zone, the Pentagon asked Boeing a year ago to develop a preliminary design for a system that could control a laser beam—but not just any laser beam. This one would come mounted on a truck that could defeat a persistent surprise threat from above. And this week the defense contractor delivered, bringing the Army one step closer to getting what can only be described as a laser truck—one capable of disabling incoming rounds. . . . |