1st SSL Weapon Introduced
REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Nov 13, 2008 -- Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. today introduced the Firestrike, the first solid-state laser (SSL) weapon, designed as a line replaceable unit (LRU) for battlefield applications.
The Firestrike is a 15-kW fieldable laser as well as a combinable LRU building block for much higher power, based on a laser beam combining architecture proven by Northrop Grumman over many years with the Joint High Power Solid State Laser program, Vesta and Vesta II, the company said.Cutaway view of...