Laser Weapons on Aircraft by 2007

[EchoFiveMike]

Actually, try pumping even a fraction of 150kw through a standard mirrror and watch it get all FUBAR from the fraction of energy it absorbs rather than transmits. Glass too, even just pitting from dust and dirt getting superheated will not do good things to it. And I'm assuming a fairly short pulse laser, not continuous. S/F....Ken M

[Brasidas]

Actually, try pumping even a fraction of 150kw through a standard mirrror and watch it get all FUBAR from the fraction of energy it absorbs rather than transmits.  Glass too, even just pitting from dust and dirt getting superheated will not do good things to it.  And I'm assuming a fairly short pulse laser, not continuous.  S/F....Ken M

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Are most spotting optics going to be standard silica however? I would go with dust contamination causing a surface contamination however. Never used a "standard mirror" in an optics lab either, don't know if a standard mirror is used in most spotting or targeting optics, but I do know optical mirrors (one slightly more transparent than another) are used in an old fashion population inversion medium laser.

[gewing]

Fine, then say "electro-optics" or "humans operating the optics", but don't say "optics taken out by lasers" cause it ain't gonna happen. There's always another eyeball and lasers can't keep lasing all day.

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point taken.