XPost: rec.arts.sf.science, sci.space.policy, sci.physics   
   XPost: sci.military.naval   
   From: rgregoryclark@gmSPAMBLOACKail.com   
      
   "Fred J. McCall"  wrote in message   
   news:pe8rhc5io10st9eouc05gs6sqkbj1m8j43@4ax.com...   
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   >   
   >The U.S. Navy is testing ...   
   >   
   That's "has tested", not "is testing".   
   >   
   >... a 30 kilowatt laser ...   
   >   
   Like I said, A laser at power levels too low to be deployed.   
   >   
   >... on the USS Ponce that can take out small boats and small drones.   
   >   
   Very small boats and drones.   
   >   
   >The plan is to install a more powerful 150   
   >kW laser that can take out larger ships and aircraft:   
   >   
   That's at least three years out.  And any ship that gets one will need   
   at least half a megawatt of spare electrical capacity.  That's quite a   
   stretch, given that big ships like the ARLEIGH BURKE class only have   
   7.5 MW total and there is already concern whether they can power   
   potential radar upgrades.   
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   The USS Ponce is currently deployed in the Persian Gulf and is authorized to   
   use its laser to repel attacks from small boats of the type that have been   
   used to mount terrorist attacks on U.S. ships.   
      
   I think you put the decimal point in the wrong place with "7.5 MW total".   
   The largest nuclear powered ships such as aircraft carriers can have up to   
   500 megawatt (thermal), 165 megawatt (electric), power plants, more than   
   enough extra capacity for a half megawatt laser system:   
      
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_naval_reactors#Power_plants   
      
   And the new Zumwalt-class destroyers will have ca. 75 megawatt power plants:   
      
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zumwalt-class_destroyer#Propulsion   
   and_power_system   
      
     Bob Clark   
      
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