Laser and Charged Particle Beam Weapons

Publication Date: June 1977

Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s):

Research Area: Military and defense

Keywords: National security

Type: Report

Abstract:

While it is not feasible to predict where important scientific advances will take place, it seems reasonable to anticipate that lasers will have a major role in military forces by the end of this century, and perhaps well before that if important breakthroughs are achieved. CPB weaponry is a much more difficult issue to assess. Basic problems in physics and engineering remain to be solved, and it is unlikely that any mere evolutionary development of existing technology will be sufficient to make CPB technology available for weapon purposes, particularly the ABM role.