DARPA has tapped Raytheon to design and develop a wireless, airborne relay system to "deliver energy into contested environments," as part of its Energy Web Dominance program, in which DARPA wants to be able to power anything from nearly anywhere.

I wonder if the system can double as an orbital weapons platform with global strike capability. They are talking about eventually scaling to megawatts of laser energy being fired into orbit then relayed back down to a target on the ground.

It's kinda weird seeing US military commanders pushing for tech to eliminate their reliance on fossil fuels. They are careful to avoid mentioning that this system is to replace the need for diesel generators at forward operating bases or jet fuel for drones. I guess that's because US political leadership has a different opinion on being dependent on fossil fuel.

  • GinAndJucheM
    ·
    10 months ago

    I can’t wait for rolling blackouts because a nearby base needs to power the wunderwaffe it’s beaming energy to in the latest brushfire war.

    • WayeeCool [comrade/them]
      ·
      10 months ago

      Can't wait for them to be off target and start actual bushfires. I keep thinking about all the claims that China was starting wildfires in the US using space lasers. Every accusation is a confession blah blah blah.

      • GinAndJucheM
        ·
        10 months ago

        I genuinely have no clue if modern laser technology could do that, I’m sure they’ll try.

        • WayeeCool [comrade/them]
          ·
          10 months ago

          Unfortunately it's already possible with commercially available lasers. Which is why the US military has been giving Lockheed and various commerical laser manufacturers money to convert existing 100KW - 1MW fiber lasers used in manufacturing to military weapon versions.

          Few different people did the math after the US media stuff about Chinese space lasers and it is even possible with off the shelf commercial fiber lasers that easily fit within a medium sized satellite using photovoltaic solar power. Interesting watch if you can tolerate smug overeducated New Hampshire libertarian vibe: https://youtube.com/watch?v=-MVs37rxJL0

        • ShimmeringKoi [comrade/them]
          ·
          10 months ago

          I think it would be easier to do from the ground or low air than from space, since from space you have a whole atmosphere dilluting your beam