[QBall]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

The ship I was on nearly thirty yeas ago could direct five million watts of energy onto a target 100 miles away and then focus that energy to an apex that was roughly the same diameter as the letter O.

I seriously doubt that. The STIRs used on our frigates have a peak power of around 125 kW and they're good to 512 Km. Besides being incredibly inefficient for the task do you have any idea how much energy you need to generate to deliver 5 mW to a target 160-180 Km away using a beam regardless of how narrow the beam is? Plus I can't even imagine how quickly you're going to wear out the transmitter.

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

A modern Aegis is know to run out over seven million watts of power via the SPY array and some reliable estimates (like Jane's) estimate that three times that amount is more likely given that the SPY can direct a surface-to-air missile to hit a target in low earth orbit that's 120 miles up and making 17,000 miles an hour.

The Aegis system is combined search, detect, track and illuminate system, which is why it needs so much power, although I doubt it's on the order to 7 mW considering the Ticonderogas carry three 2,500 kW generators. If the Aegis truly was using 7 mW peak if the ship lost one generator then the ship would lose the capability to fight.

[DrCaleb]

Jonny_C Jonny_C:

If radar can do these things, why spend all the time developing lasers?

Microwave energy in that high an EM range is reflected by steel, which is why it makes for good radar. Missles are made of steel. Not optimal.

LASER energy is lower in the EM spectrum, so many frequencies are absorbed by steel. Which is desirable when using a LASER to destroy a missle.