Laser Weapons... a little bit closer
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6380789.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/h...421/html/1.stm

A test laser just achieved 67kw of power, almost the 100kw goal. A laser weapon systems is just a decade or so away if even that.:cool:

I'm guess that they will probably need to achieve a few hundred kw before its applicable to ships defense just to be able to overcome bad weather conditions better, but a LaserCIWS seems just on the horizon nontheless.:|\\

combine this with the railgun concept from a few weeks ago, n you got one bloody power-hungry ship!

hmmm does anyone else see a few possible potential problems with so much electrical power on a ship... in the ocean... made of water.....:hmm:

or is it just me?:know:

Not much worse than controlling a nuclear reation in a box the size of your average fridge.:D

Or the fact that ships are floating gas cans with all the fuel and explosive ordinance they lug around. Railguns don't require explosive propellant or warhead so their ammo is much safer to carry. Laser CIWS wouldn't need the bullet or missile ammo so probably would be safer as well.