Laser: New technology of a weapon station successfully tested.

A small step for a Jedi (if at all), but a big one for humanity: Rheinmetall is advancing the topic of laser weapons and has successfully completed extensive test series with a new laser weapon station. In combination with a laser, the weapon station demonstrated its speed and precision during the tests in December 2018. The weapon station can handle lasers with powers up to 100 kW.

Drones and mortar grenades were successfully neutralized at operationally relevant distances during the tests at the company's test center in Ochsenboden near Zurich, Switzerland. The laser weapon station is the final component and logical extension of the laser weapon technology developed by Rheinmetall into a complete weapon system. The system consists of the components laser source, beam guidance system, optics, and movement system.

The movable laser weapon station is responsible for mechanically aligning the laser beam to the target. With the realization of a weapon station specifically designed for the requirements of a laser weapon system, Rheinmetall now has all the main components of a future laser weapon system available.

The laser weapon station was combined with beam guidance modules successfully used in numerous tests and high-power lasers available at Rheinmetall. It is designed to be combined with the 20kW laser source, also from Rheinmetall, available in the near future.
All components are designed to be inter-service, modular, scalable, and usable independently of the threat situation and military platforms.

The special performance parameters of the laser weapon station are extremely accurate mechanical aiming and an unlimited lateral swivel range (azimuth) as well as an elevation capability of over 270°. The system architecture (EN DIN 61508) is closely aligned with the Mantis air defense system introduced in the Bundeswehr, thus also providing the necessary interfaces for connection to superior air defense systems. So probably no chance of getting it to lightsaber size anytime soon...

RHEINMETALL DEFENCE on the Internet: www.rheinmetall-defence.com

For this laser, you need more of a boxer than a Jedi.