- Detailed view of the LaWS fitted on top of the bridge on board USS Ponce.
Photo Courtesy Of www.NavyRecognition.com
AMICO is a leading manufacturer of industrial bar grating, metal lath, concrete forming materials, building products, expanded metal products, perforated metals, fencing, physical security barriers, exterior/interior architectural cladding and fabricated metal products.
One of the more recent, and fascinating, applications of AMICO products relates to the military—more specifically, the U.S. Navy. AMICO’s aluminum bar grating was utilized in constructing the platforms on which the floating targets were set for preliminary testing of a prototype laser weapon that could play an important role in the future of naval combat. Check out the article and video below to learn more.
The operational demonstrations, which took place from September to November aboard USS Ponce (AFSB[I] 15), were historic not only because they showed a laser weapon working aboard a deployed U.S. Navy ship, but also because the LaWS Laser Weapon operated seamlessly with existing ship defense systems.
“Laser weapons are powerful, affordable and will play a vital role in the future of naval combat operations,” said Rear Adm. Matthew L. Klunder, chief of naval research. “We ran this particular weapon, a prototype, through some extremely tough paces, and it locked on and destroyed the targets we designated with near-instantaneous lethality.”
During the tests, LaWS – a collaborative effort between ONR, Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Research Laboratory, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division and industry partners — hit targets mounted aboard a speeding oncoming small boat, shot a Scan Eagle.
Sailors worked daily with LaWS over several months since it was installed, and reported the weapon performed flawlessly, including in adverse weather conditions of high winds, heat and humidity. They noted the system exceeded expectations for both reliability and maintainability
Source: www.navyrecognition.com; December 10, 2014.