Military high powered lasers. How powerful?

I know it's a vague question but here goes.

Anyone know or estimate how powerfull lasers can be?

What are powerful lasers being used for, either constructively or destructively?

Can you shoot down a satellite, or an airplane with one?

Can you cut a soldier in half...?

Comments?

Check this out CLICK HERE>>> http://www.metacafe.com/watch/42775/death_laser/

That laser is cool. Tracks an incoming artillery piece and then it heats it up to make it explode?

Any members here ever play with one of those pieces?

How far do you think the distance is from the light to the artillery?

How big do you think the beam is?

How much do you think it cost?

I want to find a used one in a military surplus auction and surpise the members here with my new toy.  

Imagine a battlefield minus the sound of rifle fire. Instead you see blasts of lights.

Can you say -- starwars! ;D ;D

Bravestdog said:

That laser is cool. Tracks an incoming artillery piece and then it heats it up to make it explode?

Any members here ever play with one of those pieces?

How far do you think the distance is from the light to the artillery?

How big do you think the beam is?

How much do you think it cost?

I want to find a used one in a military surplus auction and surpise the members here with my new toy.  

Imagine a battlefield minus the sound of rifle fire. Instead you see blasts of lights.

Click to expand...

I doubt we have any members that advanced! I think the beam is a few centimeters diameter, and would have to have a range of at least 50 KM, I am sure artillery/Katyusha rockets have range in excess of that. As for cost.......millions... :-? ;D As for finding one in military surplus...well I think you are more likly to find a real lightsaber in the road. ;D

People would go to wars just becasue of the great light show they would see..... ;D ;D ;D ;D

I think there laser in excess of several MW, yes mega watts!, but they are pulsed. I recall seeing a laser on the show "Future Weapons" it was a 10 KW CO2 laser, continuous wave, now that would mow down soldiers tanks...etc.

Oh yeah....that is all we gotta do is make WAR easier to create. Soon enough we will have wars like in the old days, other countries trying to go to war just because they can, and because they want something the ther counttry has. I think there is enough paranoia in the world today without adding this to the every day arsenal. I have seen some "experimental" weapons, and what they can do - and who would most likely use them, etc...it is some scary shit. Why can't we all just get along ?!?!?!?!?

Bravestdog said:

That laser is cool. Tracks an incoming artillery piece and then it heats it up to make it explode?

Any members here ever play with one of those pieces?

How far do you think the distance is from the light to the artillery?

How big do you think the beam is?

How much do you think it cost?

I want to find a used one in a military surplus auction and surpise the members here with my new toy.  

Imagine a battlefield minus the sound of rifle fire. Instead you see blasts of lights.

Click to expand...

I think you're thinking of this as a fancy gun. Instead, think of it as a operational nuclear (new-cue-ler ) bomb. Then ask the same questions.

You won't be buying a nuke from military surplus, and neither will you be buying MTHEL.

This video is shown a lot, but I haven't really seen any of those specs on it (if they're even public at all), so I can't answer your other questions. Sorry.

pseudonomen137 said:

.....
I think you're thinking of this as a fancy gun. Instead, think of it as a operational nuclear (new-cue-ler ) bomb.........

Click to expand...

Not you too! ;D That is the most annoying thing known to man, when people pronounce that wrong.