Hercules for airborne laser testbed aircraft

[edpop]

The Air Force has reportedly external link retained some aging C-130U Hercules aircraft for use as airborne laser testbed aircraft. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) plans to use the aircraft to test both offensive laser weapons and defensive lasers designed to act as less-than-lethal options. DARPA has been field testing external link the use of lasers against hostile projectiles, with the Air Force expecting external link to field airborne lasers on larger cargo aircraft models from 2021. However, the further development of these capabilities could be hamstrung external link by sequestration and a lack of political will.

[Hercmaster]

Here's an interesting technical report on the High Energy Laser Directed Energy Weapons: http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-DEW-HEL-Analysis.html