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Economist
2 hours ago
- Science
- Economist
Why armies are using laser weapons to zap things out of the sky
The Economist explains | Beam them down Your browser does not support this video. ARMIES HAVE dreamt of firing laser weapons for a long time. A lab funded by America's Defence Department demonstrated one in 1960. But decades of development failed to produce a practical weapon, and the ambition waned. Now it is back. Last year America reportedly used a high-energy laser (HEL) to down drones aimed at its forces in the Middle East. Israel and Russia have both recently used HELs to foil drone attacks. Ukraine may soon do the same. Why are laser weapons suddenly useful? And what role could they play in future wars? The Martians had a heat ray that could destroy the Royal Navy's battleships, but that was in 'The War of the Worlds', a 19th-century work of science fiction. HELs are not high-energy enough for that. To seriously damage a warship or tank would require megawatts of power–a noticeable proportion of the output of a conventional power plant. HELs produce kilowatts, ie, thousandths of a megawatt. Even aircraft can survive bombardment by HELs. For a while missiles looked like potential prey. They have thin skins and are packed with fuel and explosives. Merely damaging the shell of a supersonic missile can create drag, causing it to tumble out of control. And, no matter how fast the missile, laser beams, which travel at the speed of light, can catch up to it. President John F. Kennedy gave a laser-missile-defence project the highest national-security priority after the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. But missiles turned out to be difficult targets. They're not as fast as lasers, yet they are still hard to intercept. In 1973 a laser downed an aerial target at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, but it was something a little slower than a missile, perhaps a small radio-controlled aircraft. The advent of the small drone as a weapon in the 2010s has given lasers a target they can handle. The Russian and Ukrainian armed forces have launched attack drones, as have the Houthi militia in Yemen. They are becoming ubiquitous in war. Conventional air defences can shoot them down, but many of the missiles these systems fire cost millions of dollars and are in short supply. Lasers, on the other hand, cost just a few dollars per shot and their ammunition is limited only by their power supply. Advocates say they're the ideal drone killers. Your browser does not support this video. America fielded a laser system in the Persian Gulf in as early as 2014, to destroy small boats and other 'asymmetric threats', but did not use it. It probably first fired one in battle last year. A 20-kilowatt LOCUST system, the size of a small garden shed and weighing some 1,500kg, reportedly downed drones launched at a military base in the Middle East, probably by an Iran-backed militia. This year Israel released video of its lasers shooting down drones fired by Hizbullah, a Lebanon-based militia. The Israel Defence Forces claim that they have taken out 'dozens' of drones. Analysts believe that Israel is using the Keren Or (Lite Beam) system made by Rafael, an Israeli firm. It's a ten-kilowatt little brother to the 50-kilowatt Iron Beam system, which is being developed to supplement the conventional Iron Dome anti-missile system. Meanwhile, Russia has released a video purporting to show an HEL engaging a Ukrainian drone. The weapon looks identical to a Chinese-made Shen Nung, with an output of more than 30 kilowatts. Ukraine has also released footage of its 50-kilowatt Trident laser destroying drones in tests. Its commanders are eager to field Trident to defend against nightly waves of Iranian-designed Shahed drones fired from Russia. Though trendy, HELs have drawbacks. Even though one blast is cheap, installing a system is not. The British Royal Navy's Dragonfire HELs will cost £100m ($135m) apiece. Today's lasers have relatively short ranges (of up to a few miles) and can be hampered by smoke, dust, haze or fog. In theory they can be carried around by planes or Jeeps, but get the power they need more easily from ships or on the ground. Lasers also have competition in the form of old-fashioned anti-aircraft guns, which are relatively cheap and can take on lots of targets. Attack drones are here to stay. The question is whether beams or bullets will blast them.
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Will prosperity come with peace?
During the presidency of John F. Kennedy, the United States, fearing the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, deployed military advisors to support South Vietnam, a Western ally, against North Vietnam, which was aligned with the communist regimes of China and the Soviet Union. The situation escalated following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964, when American ships were attacked in what many later considered a premeditated act. In response, President Lyndon B. Johnson, Kennedy's successor, was granted extensive military authority to confront North Vietnam. By 1969, U.S. troop numbers in Vietnam had increased to over half a million. However, faced with mounting human and financial losses, as well as increasing domestic and international opposition to the war, the United States was ultimately forced to withdraw. U.S. forces eventually withdrew, transferring defense responsibilities to the South Vietnamese government. Peace negotiations between North Vietnam and the United States began in Paris and lasted several years, ultimately culminating in a humiliating and unprecedented American withdrawal. Decades later, a similar scene would unfold in Afghanistan. The Vietnamese capital, Saigon, eventually fell to communist forces from the North. The toll on the United States was staggering. Over 58,000 American soldiers lost their lives in the last four years of the war, and the financial costs were immense. Upon their return, many veterans struggled with severe psychological trauma, and American society became deeply divided. Public opposition to the war intensified, triggering widespread social unrest. The war's failure also marked the end of President Johnson's political career. The Vietnamese had previously resisted invasions by France, then Japan, then France again, followed by the United States, and finally China. Despite the loss of five million of its citizens, Vietnam remained steadfast. During the final phase of the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975, the United States lost over 58,000 soldiers, with more than 150,000 wounded. On the Vietnamese side, two million civilians and one million soldiers were killed. The war also witnessed widespread use of landmines, radioactive materials, and chemical agents whose harmful effects lingered for decades. According to a Harvard University study, the war resulted in ten million refugees, one million widows, 880,000 orphaned children, 362,000 children without one parent, and three million unemployed individuals. By the end of the war, inflation in Vietnam had skyrocketed to 900 percent. In the aftermath, Washington imposed a boycott on Vietnam and refused to deal with its communist government. However, the two countries began a slow process of normalization in the mid-1990s. The United States covers an area of approximately 10 million square kilometers, while Vietnam covers just 331,000 square kilometers. It was only half that size at the time it, being one of the poorest nations, went to war with America, which was the most powerful and wealthy nation in history. The struggles of Vietnam, South Africa, Algeria, and even Afghanistan stand as powerful examples of resilience in the face of overwhelming force. Similarly, the Palestinian resistance, in all its forms, offers valuable lessons that deserve careful study. Total surrender to Israel, as some advocates suggest, would bring consequences far more severe than many can imagine. Several Arab countries have normalized relations with Israel in hopes of achieving peace, cooperation, and prosperity. Yet, after more than two decades, these nations have seen little in the way of tangible benefits.
Technical.ly
3 days ago
- Business
- Technical.ly
This Week in Jobs: Shoot for the moon with these 20 tech career opportunities
Let's go back to this day in history, 1962. It was July 22 — John F. Kennedy was president, 'Roses are Red (My Love)' by Bobby Vinton was the #1 song, and NASA launched Mariner 1, the first spacecraft intended to fly by Venus. Mariner 1 was a failure. Due to a tiny coding error, it veered off course and had to be destroyed mid-air. NASA got right back on the metaphorical horse. The failure of Mariner 1 paved the way for Mariner 2, which successfully made it to Venus just a few weeks later. The truth is, big goals often lead to big flops. But each attempt moves you closer to success. Whether you're aiming for a whole new career or a step up, this is your reminder to stay on course and keep launching. The News VC funding plummets in Philly, DC and Baltimore. Economic instability, tariffs and AI are among the reasons experts give for the slowdown. Over a dozen corporations have pledged billions in investments for Pennsylvania data centers needed to keep up the increased energy demands of AI. Why Pennsylvania, why now? How Lancaster County, PA is growing as a tech hub, without losing its rural roots. DC middle schoolers learn robotics over summer break, as the mayor moves to increase public school funding on the local level. A King of Prussia, PA electric vehicle charger startup presses on as the federal government disinvests in clean energy. New research out of DC rated different chatbots for safety, including measuring misinformation, impersonation and hate speech. The highest rated bot scored a B. Partner Spotlight From your first day at Comcast, you'll have the support and resources you need to grow your career. You'll work on the cutting edge, impacting the lives of millions as you help create amazing experiences and groundbreaking products. Learn more about the culture and career opportunities at this client. Want to feature your company or program? Learn more about advertising opportunities here. The Jobs Greater Philly Capital One is hiring a Lead Software Engineer, Full Stack (Bank Tech). TherapyNotes in Horsham has an open listing for a Systems Administrator. Crossbeam is seeking a hybrid . Kleer and Membersy is hiring a hybrid Director of IT. Noblis is looking for a C++ Software Developer. DC + Baltimore Leidos in Chantilly is looking for a System Engineer. BAE Systems in Rockville is seeking a PLM Application Developer. Link Solutions in Adelphi has a listing for a Software License Manager. DataAnnotation in DC is seeking a Data Engineer – AI Trainer. Pittsburgh Gray Swan AI has listings for a Software Engineer and a Marketing Manager/Director. Arcadis is seeking a Senior Toll Systems Analyst. AMN Healthcare needs a Computed Tomography Technologist. Proofpoint is hiring a Staff Product Manager. The End Good luck on your next big leap.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Trump administration releases Martin Luther King Jr. assassination files
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration released hundreds of thousands of pages of records on Monday about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., despite concerns from the civil rights leader's family. "The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal government's investigation into Dr King's assassination," Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said in a statement. "We are ensuring that no stone is left unturned in our mission to deliver complete transparency on this pivotal and tragic event in our nation's history." Gabbard said more than 230,000 pages of documents were being released and were being published "with minimal redactions for privacy reasons." President Donald Trump signed an executive order after taking office declassifying files on the 1960s assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy, and King. The National Archives released records from John F. Kennedy's November 1963 assassination in March and files related to the June 1968 murder of Robert F. Kennedy in April. King was assassinated in April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray was convicted of the murder and died in prison in 1998, but King's children have expressed doubts that he was the assassin. In a statement on Monday, King's two surviving children, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, said they "support transparency and historical accountability" but were concerned the records could be used for "attacks on our father's legacy." The civil rights leader was the target during his lifetime of an "invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign" orchestrated by then FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, they said in a joint statement. The FBI campaign was intended to "discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr King's reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement," they said. "These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth." "We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief," they said. The Warren Commission that investigated the shooting of John F. Kennedy determined it was carried out by a former Marine sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone. That formal conclusion has done little, however, to quell speculation that a more sinister plot was behind Kennedy's murder in Dallas, Texas, and the slow release of the government files added fuel to various conspiracy theories. President Kennedy's younger brother, Robert, a former attorney general, was assassinated while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination. Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian-born Jordanian, was convicted of his murder and is serving a life sentence in a US prison in California.
Business Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Times
Trump administration releases Martin Luther King Jr. assassination files
[WASHINGTON] The Trump administration released hundreds of thousands of pages of records on Monday about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. despite concerns from the civil rights leader's family. 'The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal government's investigation into Dr King's assassination,' Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said in a statement. 'We are ensuring that no stone is left unturned in our mission to deliver complete transparency on this pivotal and tragic event in our nation's history.' Gabbard said more than 230,000 pages of documents were being released and were being published 'with minimal redactions for privacy reasons.' President Donald Trump signed an executive order after taking office declassifying files on the 1960s assassinations of president John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy and King. The National Archives released records from John F. Kennedy's November 1963 assassination in March and files related to the June 1968 murder of Robert F. Kennedy in April. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up King was assassinated in April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray was convicted of the murder and died in prison in 1998, but King's children have expressed doubts that he was the assassin. In a statement on Monday, King's two surviving children, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, said they 'support transparency and historical accountability' but were concerned the records could be used for 'attacks on our father's legacy.' The civil rights leader was the target during his lifetime of an 'invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign' orchestrated by then-FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, they said in a joint statement. The FBI campaign was intended to 'discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr. King's reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement,' they said. 'These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth.' 'We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief,' they said. The Warren Commission that investigated the shooting of John F. Kennedy determined it was carried out by a former Marine sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone. That formal conclusion has done little, however, to quell speculation that a more sinister plot was behind Kennedy's murder in Dallas, Texas, and the slow release of the government files added fuel to various conspiracy theories. President Kennedy's younger brother, Robert, a former attorney general, was assassinated while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination. Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian-born Jordanian, was convicted of his murder and is serving a life sentence in a prison in California. AFP
