[Laser] 'Son of Spectre' chemical oxygen iodine laser DX

[ed]

what kind of mobile dx could be achieved with one of these things?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/02/17/wbush217.xml&sSheet=/news/2002/02/17/ixworld.html

America's laser of death cleared for take-off
By Sean Rayment
(Filed: 17/02/2002)
AMERICA'S enemies will soon face a weapon, once confined to the Star Wars 
films, that can bring death at the speed of light.
The special operations AC-130 Spectre gunship, whose conventional weaponry 
has been used to devastating effect since the Vietnam War, is to be fitted 
with a laser that can shoot down missiles, punch holes in aircraft and 
knock out ground radar stations.
Despite the successful operations against Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters in 
Afghanistan, the emergence of asymmetric terrorist warfare - attacks such 
as September 11 where the enemy is unseen - has led the Pentagon to 
identify the need for a more sophisticated and deadly weapons system.
The next generation gunship, codenamed AC-X and nicknamed 'Son of Spectre' 
by US defence officials, will carry all the weaponry already used on the 
AC-130, including twin 20mm Vulcan cannon (capable of firing 2,500 rounds 
per minute), 40mm Bofor cannon (100 rounds per minute) and a 105mm 
Howitzer. Its 21st-century addition, however, will be its biggest punch: a 
chemical oxygen iodine laser (Coil), capable of carrying out lethal and 
non-lethal attacks.
The advantage of laser weapons is that they strike at the speed of light. 
In the Coil, the power of a chemical reaction is converted to laser energy, 
and the weapon can carry on firing as long as its power source is intact.
Paul Wolfowitz, the US deputy defence secretary, has given the go-ahead for 
the next-generation AC-130, which includes full funding for the 
"integration of a direct-energy weapon".
The Pentagon is yet to announce when the new laser-equipped "Son of 
Spectre" will come into operation, but it is understood that the first 
upgraded version could be involved in military operations within two years.
Although lasers exist that can hit aircraft, disable optically guided 
missiles and destroy communications lines, the ability to vaporise enemy 
troops and vehicles Star Wars-style will take a few more years to develop.
The Spectre, flown by the 16th Special Operations Squadron, has a crew of 
13, including two observers using television and infra-red images to direct 
the four gunners on to their target.
Working in pairs, normally providing close air support for special forces 
ground operations, Spectres can circle targets for hours, pulverising areas 
the size of football pitches with extraordinary precision.
The Spectre has, however, come to the end of its operational life and 
further upgrades have been ruled out on cost grounds.
Rob Hewson, the editor of Jane's Air Launched Weapons, said: "The laser 
will be the atomic weapon of the 21st century. Since the 1970s, US 
scientists have conducted a series of secret experiments in the Nevada 
desert using lasers.
"We know that they had lasers capable of causing immense damage but they 
needed huge power packs. This remains a problem and this is why a laser 
weapon can only be fitted on an air frame the size of the AC-130. But 
advances will be made and the power plant will shrink and one day it will 
dominate the battle field.
"The Americans may already have a very powerful laser weapon far more 
advanced than we have seen. They have been carrying out research in this 
field for years but it is a very secret weapons programme and we have no 
idea how far they have progressed."
Once the Coil and its power plant have been fully developed, the USAF hopes 
to fit it to a whole range of manned and unmanned aircraft, such as the 
Predator reconnaissance probe, which is fitted with Hellfire missiles and 
has been used in CIA operations in Afghanistan.
Lasers could also be used as an additional weapon system to fighters, 
bombers, helicopter gunships and warships but this is unlikely for a decade.