Creating traditional types of weapons, scientists from developed countries pay great attention to combat products of ONFP. This abbreviation refers to any kind of weapons based on previously unused physical principles. TO ONFP belong: beam weapons, geophysical, kinetic, infrasonic, radio frequency, genetic, as well as means of conducting information warfare. The main task of ONFP is to neutralize the enemy without human casu alties and destruction. The article contains information about beam weapons.
Definition of concept
Beam weapons are offensive weapons in which a laser beam is the damaging factor.
The laser itself is a system in which the following elements are present:
- Active (or working) gaseous, solid or liquid medium.
- Powerful sourceenergy.
- Resonator in the form of a system of mirrors.
Laser weapons are a system of special devices that convert energy into highly focused beams or into concentrated beams. The function of these devices is performed by special generators. Energy can be electrical, light, chemical and thermal. Depending on what the devices convert electromagnetic energy into, beam weapons can use a laser or a highly focused accelerated beam of energy-saturated particles as a damaging factor.
Operation principle
When aiming any type of beam weapon at a target, it is exposed to the damaging effects of extremely high temperatures. This leads to the fact that the supersensitive elements of the object melt and even evaporate. As a result of hitting a laser on a person, thermal burns are observed. The laser also has a destructive effect on the organs of vision.
Benefits
The advantages of this type of laser weapon include:
- Ste alth. When using a laser, there are no external signs such as fire, smoke and sound.
- High accuracy.
- Instant action. The object burns down in a matter of seconds. It takes very little time to move the beam to a new target.
- Straightness.
- High speed. The subject has no time to dodge.
- No recoil.
- Infinity "ammunition". It depends only on the power of the energy source.
Application of laser beam
Lasers are used in the space industry. With their help, intercontinental ballistic missiles and artificial earth satellites are destroyed. This weapon is also quite effective in tactical zones of armed conflicts, where the laser is used to destroy the enemy's organs of vision.
Weapons of the Future
In the US, lasers are created that use the chemical properties of nitrogen. Nitrogen-beam weapons are powered by energy generated by the combustion of ethylene in nitrogen trifluoride.
The strengths of such lasers include:
- Environmental cleanliness. Unlike nuclear weapons, lasers do not generate radiation.
- Relatively cheap. Nitrogen is available in unlimited quantities anywhere in the world.
Death Rays
This type of weapon is also called "beam". This name is explained by the fact that the function of the striking element in this weapon is carried out by charged or neutral particles (electrons, protons, neutral hydrogen atoms), collected in highly directed beams and dispersed at a very high speed. In outer space, beam accelerator weapons are used to disable the electronic equipment of intercontinental, ballistic and cruise missiles. When conducting ground combat operations with the help of beams, enemy military equipment is destroyed. In addition, accelerating weapons have a detrimental effect on manpower. They, first of all, affect blood hemoglobin, enzymes of the nervoussystems, water molecules in living organisms.
According to American military experts, the United States has the ability to effectively act from space on large areas of the earth's surface with the help of accelerating beam weapons. Mass destruction of people and other living organisms located in the covered territories can potentially result from such an impact. Unofficially, this type of weapon is called "death rays".
History of Creation
In the first half of the 20th century, the Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla, who lived in America at that time, was engaged in the idea of using various types of energy converted into targeted rays. Tesla's beam weapon was based on a completely new physical principle, which had not yet been used in his previous inventions for the transmission of electrical energy over long distances.
In the development of the scientist, the energy transmitted in the atmosphere was focused by a beam on a specific object. According to the physicist, with the help of a laser beam it is possible to destroy up to 10 thousand units of enemy aircraft from a distance of 400 thousand meters. To generate the beam, they had to create special stations worth $ 2 million. Their construction, according to the scientist, would have taken at least three months. Dr. John Trump, who served as the head of the US National Defense Committee, such statements were perceived as speculative and without the possibility of their implementation. Wanting to balance the worldbalance and prevent the outbreak of the Second World War, in 1940 N. Tesla suggested that the US government reveal the secrets of its "super-weapon". Not having received proper understanding in America, the scientist with similar proposals turned to the governments of other states. The physicist's invention aroused interest in the Soviet Union. In negotiations with N. Tesla, the interests of the USSR in the United States were represented by the Amtorg company. For $25,000, a Serbian inventor sold plans to Soviet scientists for making vacuum chambers used in beam weapons. In the USA, the physicist became interested in the invention only after his death. FBI agents searched the scientist's office and seized all his documentation.
Soviet developments
The design and testing of the "death ray" was carried out in strict secrecy. It wasn't until 1960 that the general public could see what a laser weapon was for the first time. During the Cold War, rival Soviet and American scientists stepped up work to create their own "death rays". In both states, very large sums were invested in these projects. Testing did not stop even after the end of the Cold War.
In order to provide strategic anti-space and anti-missile defense with a new, very effective and powerful destructive weapon, Soviet scientists already in 1950 launched projects to create super-powerful laser weapons "Terra" and "Omega". The test site was the Kazakh Sary-Shagan test site. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, all work at this site was stopped.
Firstdemonstration
In 1984, the American shuttle Challenger was exposed to radiation using the Terra laser radar. As a result, the communication and electronic equipment of the ship was disrupted. In addition, the crew members were noted deterioration of he alth. The Americans realized that they had become the object of electromagnetic interference from the Soviet Union. For the entire period of the Cold War, this episode was the only one using beam weapons.
Soviet self-propelled laser systems
In the 80s, Soviet scientists developed a program for a combat laser system for the Compression self-propelled complex. The design was carried out by employees of NPO Astrophysics. The complex was designed to burn through the armor of enemy tanks and disable their optoelectronic systems.
In 1983, on the basis of the Shilka self-propelled unit, a new laser complex "Sangvin" was developed. Its task is to destroy the optical systems that are equipped with enemy helicopters.
In addition, Soviet scientists specifically for the cosmonauts made several units of hand-held laser weapons. However, these non-lethal carbines and pistols were never needed. They lay in warehouses until 1990.
American laser YAL-1A
In the middle of the last century, US scientists designed the YAL-1A laser specifically for the Boeing-747-400F aircraft. His task was to destroy enemy ballistic missiles. Even though it's laserthe weapon was successfully tested, it turned out to be impractical to install it on an airship in practice. This is explained by the fact that the maximum range of the YAL-1A does not exceed 200 km. The pilot of a Boeing-747 will not approach the enemy if he has even the most minimal air defense system.
HEL MD
In 2013, a new beam weapon was developed in the USA. Its power is 10 kW. In 2017, the new laser has already passed its baptism of fire in the Persian Gulf. With its help, one unmanned aerial vehicle and several mortar mines were shot down. By 2020, American scientists plan to improve this laser. Ultimately, the HEL MD system will be a 100 kilowatt plant.
Israeli laser missile defense system
In this country, scientists are also developing powerful anti-missile lasers. Palestinian terrorists used Qassam missiles to attack Israeli territory. At this time, the United States launched the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program. In the late 90s, the American company Northrop Grumman, together with Israeli scientists, developed the Nautilus laser missile defense system. It was planned that the Israeli armed forces would use it to protect against Palestinian missiles. However, Israel soon withdrew from the SDI, and the laser system never entered service with the state.
Beam weapons of Russia
According to Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov, in 2014, specifically for ground vehicles, helicopters, combataircraft and ships entered service with several laser systems. What they are, as well as information about their number is not disclosed at the moment. Today, the Russian army is testing the A-60 laser system, which they plan to equip the Il-76 aircraft in the future. The place of the laser was the bow of the airship. During the tests, it turned out that the "weapon of the future" is ineffective in foggy and cloudy weather and needs to be improved. Beam quality is also negatively affected by high clouds and snow.
And yet this type of weaponry is considered the most promising. In good weather conditions, the range of the A-60 combat beam is 1500 km. It is effective for destroying ballistic missiles, enemy aircraft, tanks and air defense systems. As Russian scientists plan, the missile defense systems of the Russian Federation will be equipped with advanced weapons in the near future.
Lasers in art
At the mention of lasers, many people associate with the famous movie "Star Wars". It was there that the idea of using beam rifles, pistols and swords first appeared. Later, developers of various computer games borrowed similar weapons.
The role-playing game "Skyrim" can be a vivid example. Anyone who has been in the virtual world of Skyrim is familiar with Dwemer beam weapons. By entering a certain mod for the further passage of the game, you can equip a one-handed beam sword, axe, ax or dagger.
