Laser weapon destroys rocket target in three seconds: here’s the future of anti-missile defense systems

December 18, 2012 Weapons

David Cenciotti

The following video shows the Lockheed Martin Area Defense Anti-munitions (ADAM) laser weapon system at work.

On Dec. 10, 2012, the ADAM prototype successfully destroyed a rocket target flying on a wire at a range of 1.6 kilometers. Quite surprisingly, acquisition, tracking and destruction of the target took only about three seconds.

ADAM system is designed to defend high-value areas by means of a 10-kilowatt fibre laser which has an effective range of 1.2 miles (2 kilometres).

Recent tests have proved ADAM is capable to destroy unmanned aerial targets at around 0.9 miles and small-caliber rockets at a range of 2 kilometers (1.2 miles): in other words, it’s the future in anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense tech.

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.