More on JSF Laser System

An anonymous reader writes "Seems Lockheed Martin has won a contract to equip future versions of the Joint Strike Fighter with a 100-kW laser. Housed in a dome within the aircraft, the laser's turret would emerge for firing [sound familiar?], and the laser itself is spec'ed to achieve airborne and ground kills at a distance of more than six miles. The problem? According to this Aviation Week article, Lockheed Martin has to figure out how to dissipate 900 kilowatts of heat. Maybe the Finnish airforce could value-add to the OEM model." We mentioned this earlier.

Heat

[bytesmythe]

Lockheed Martin has to figure out how to dissipate 900 kilowatts of heat

They can use whatever heatsink comes out for those 4 Ghz Pentiums...

Not on the plane...

[SaturnTim]

I didn't want it on the aircraft,
I wanted them mounted on the sharks!

All I want are sharks with freakin laser beams on their head!

--Dr. Evil.

I wonder....

[nizo]

if they are gonna put a huge warning sticker on the front of the figher: "Do not stare directly into laser"?

Re:Time to buy some really good sunglasses

[Sylver Dragon]

Hey dude, it's a WEAPON. That means it's SUPPOSED to cause damage... so blinding some enemy troops isn't such a bad thing.

Shh, don't burst his reality. He's probably also one of those people that want to outlaw weapons in war because they are too effective at killing people. Let him go about his dreams of Nerf warfare.

Which suggests the obvious solution...

[devphil]

I would bet that they could rig up some sort of Athelon style heat sink, the air flow over it at Mach 1 should be able to take care of the heat. That seems the be how much air flow is required in my Dual Athelon system here.

They need a case mod for the JSF. I suggest one of the water-cooled systems; a second non-laser-firing plane can fly alongside with the radiator. Only a few hundred meters of tubing for the water would be needed to connect the two.

Alternatively, mount a gigantic fishtank on top of the aircraft.

I don't remember any of the other weird case mods that have been posted here, for which I'm sure all of you are thankful. :-)

Star Trek? Huh?

[smoondog]

Housed in a dome within the aircraft, the laser's turret would emerge for firing [sound familiar?]

I find the suggestion of a Trek parallel humorous. Of course a laser turret that emerges to fire is somehow the visionary genius of a Trek writer. But, I guess whale penises do that too. Oh well...

-Sean

Re:Time to buy some really good sunglasses

[Waffle Iron]

intentionally blinding people with lasers is against the Geneva convention.

I can see it now:

GI: Sarge! There's a dozen or more enemy troops on the other side of that ridge! I'm going to call for air support: They'll blind those bastards with a laser! We can go in and round 'em up.

Sarge: No can do, soldier. That's against the Geneva convention. You tell your flyboy buddy to drop a Daisy Cutter on those a-holes. I'm afraid the only humane way to handle this situation is to incinerate those poor bastards to a crispy crunch.

GI:Yes, Sir!

Joint Strike FIghter

[Anonymous Coward]

As a member of the National Association of Hemp Workers and Marijuana Growers Union (NAHWMGU), I must protest Slashdot's support of joint strike fighters.

The right of Hemp workers everywhere to join together and protest for better working conditions must be preserved. If you are a Hemp worker, please contact your local chapter for more information on joining the Joint Strike. Don't let Slashdot keep you down!

Re:Time to buy some really good sunglasses

[e2d2]

Chrome tanks, chrome fatigues, and mirror Cochese shades?

SWEEET!

Re:I wonder....

[Dr. Awktagon]

No, but there'll definitely be a sign on the firing end with the words "THIS SIDE TOWARD ENEMY".

Re:I wonder....

[Stonent1]

Oh you mean like this: Do not rotate [fortunecity.com]?

Double-ended sword

[goodmanj]

So let's get this straight: this thing kills enemy fighters by delivering 100 KW of heat. Meanwhile, it delivers 900 KW of heat to the plane firing it.

It's like a gun that shoots nine bullets backward for every bullet it shoots forward.

Ah, you say, but they'll design the fighter to deal with the heat load. Yes, well, you could wear a bulletproof vest while using the nine-bullets-backward gun; that still doesn't make it a good idea.

There's no denying that lasers are more interesting than bullets and missiles, but I've seen no evidence that they're more useful.

Re:Put the heat to use...

[Eagle7]

The next-gen JSF would feature a mini-oven and a jacuzzi for the pilot and co-pilot.

Right... I can see it now:

Pilot: I need to use the laser Slider... time to fire up the oven.

Copilot: Shit Maverick, this is the 15th batch of hot pockets I've had to eat this flight - can't you use a fucking missile or something?