Zap. 
A USMC request for development of the ATL states:
"A precision engagement of a PID insurgent by a DEW will be a highly surgical and impressively violent event. Target effects will include instantaneous burst-combustion of insurgent clothing, a rapid death through violent trauma, and more probably a morbid combination of both. It is estimated that the aftermath of a sub-second engagement by PASDEW will also be an observable event leaving an impression of of terrifyingly precise CF attribution in the minds of all witnesses. The PASDEW capability will give CF an asymmetric psychological edge over the insurgency. It is a lethal capability they cannot readily counter and will not fully comprehend, particularly as the DEW is invisible to the unaided eye and the aircraft can engage from significant stand off. For all witnesses, it will be perceived that overt insurgency participation in the MNF-W AOR is less attractive due to the terrifying potential consequences."
http://www.ndiagulfcoast.com/events... Briefing (Public Release) for AAS Oct 08.pdf
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/systems/atl.htm
http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-space/article/2008-03/how-it-works-airborne-laser-cannon
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/09/tactial-laser-l
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_tactical_laser
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2007/12/military-reques
This looks pretty cool. It will be interesteing to see if they can get the laser powerful enough to make it practical.
Having a weapons platform that can deliver a precision strike, with little or no "signature" from 20km would be invaluable in an asymmetric conflict. I would imagine it could have some use destroying suspected IEDs as well.
Scenario: Convoy halts due to suspeted IED in road. Instead of waiting on arrivial of EOD/route clearance team, with the inherent risk of attack while halted, they call up orbiting AC-X with ATL, and have them zap the suspected IED a few times. IED goes boom, convoy moves out. Bad guys observing have no idea why IED detonated since AC-X is miles away, and beam is invisible. Even better - UAV or AC-X spots triggerman/observation team overlooking IED. After zapping IED, AC-X, pans over and zaps them as well, with minimal risk of collateral damage. Again bad guys have no idea what just happened, except that tiggerman bursts into flames, or explodes as all the water in his body superheats to steam.
The same capability would be great for situations like the recent hostage situaition off the Somali coast. No need to get the life boat under tow, and wait hours and hours for the exact moment the Navy SEAL snipers all have clear LOS to the pirates. Instead ATL mounted in USMC MV-22 launched off of USN LHA, orbiting well out of site of the pirates, locks onto the 3 bad guys and zap-zap-zap (assuming the weapon as fielded can cycle fast enough to kill all three before anyone starts squeezing triggers). End of hostage situation. Hostage may need counseling afterwards though - watching your captors suddenly torch would be unsettling.
No doubt there would be outcry that frying people with lasers is somehow more "inhumane" than shooting them full of holes, blowing them up, or any of the more acceptable but less novel ways of killing people. I never really understood that mindset. Dead is dead.
Adrian
A USMC request for development of the ATL states:
"A precision engagement of a PID insurgent by a DEW will be a highly surgical and impressively violent event. Target effects will include instantaneous burst-combustion of insurgent clothing, a rapid death through violent trauma, and more probably a morbid combination of both. It is estimated that the aftermath of a sub-second engagement by PASDEW will also be an observable event leaving an impression of of terrifyingly precise CF attribution in the minds of all witnesses. The PASDEW capability will give CF an asymmetric psychological edge over the insurgency. It is a lethal capability they cannot readily counter and will not fully comprehend, particularly as the DEW is invisible to the unaided eye and the aircraft can engage from significant stand off. For all witnesses, it will be perceived that overt insurgency participation in the MNF-W AOR is less attractive due to the terrifying potential consequences."
http://www.ndiagulfcoast.com/events... Briefing (Public Release) for AAS Oct 08.pdf
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/systems/atl.htm
http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-space/article/2008-03/how-it-works-airborne-laser-cannon
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/09/tactial-laser-l
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_tactical_laser
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2007/12/military-reques
This looks pretty cool. It will be interesteing to see if they can get the laser powerful enough to make it practical.
Having a weapons platform that can deliver a precision strike, with little or no "signature" from 20km would be invaluable in an asymmetric conflict. I would imagine it could have some use destroying suspected IEDs as well.
Scenario: Convoy halts due to suspeted IED in road. Instead of waiting on arrivial of EOD/route clearance team, with the inherent risk of attack while halted, they call up orbiting AC-X with ATL, and have them zap the suspected IED a few times. IED goes boom, convoy moves out. Bad guys observing have no idea why IED detonated since AC-X is miles away, and beam is invisible. Even better - UAV or AC-X spots triggerman/observation team overlooking IED. After zapping IED, AC-X, pans over and zaps them as well, with minimal risk of collateral damage. Again bad guys have no idea what just happened, except that tiggerman bursts into flames, or explodes as all the water in his body superheats to steam.
The same capability would be great for situations like the recent hostage situaition off the Somali coast. No need to get the life boat under tow, and wait hours and hours for the exact moment the Navy SEAL snipers all have clear LOS to the pirates. Instead ATL mounted in USMC MV-22 launched off of USN LHA, orbiting well out of site of the pirates, locks onto the 3 bad guys and zap-zap-zap (assuming the weapon as fielded can cycle fast enough to kill all three before anyone starts squeezing triggers). End of hostage situation. Hostage may need counseling afterwards though - watching your captors suddenly torch would be unsettling.
No doubt there would be outcry that frying people with lasers is somehow more "inhumane" than shooting them full of holes, blowing them up, or any of the more acceptable but less novel ways of killing people. I never really understood that mindset. Dead is dead.
Adrian