Rapid Fire 2011-11-24: 10kW Lasers

* Cost-effective procurement: How to break over 500 jihadis out of Kandahar prison, for $20,000. As told by the the operation’s planners to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s “Voice of Jihad.” * DCNS’ Gowind Class offshore patrol vessel L’Adroit is headed for Toulon NB, to begin its 3-year promotional tour as a French Navy ship. * Israel’s F-35i fleet will be based at Nevatim AB as of 2015, when they’re scheduled to arrive in Israel. * Vietnamese pilots have begun flight training in Canada for their new DHC-6 Twin Otters. * Rheinmetall begins deliveries of their AEV-3 Kodiak Armored Engineering Vehicles to Sweden & the Netherlands. * VTUAV heli-drones have landed on ships, but can they do it in high waves and low-visibility, using the same harpoon and winch-down system used in naval helicopters? Thales (UAV interfaces, positioning) and DCNS (ship integration and motion prediction, harpoon system) are working on it, using a Boeing H-6U Little Bird. * Rheinmetall has used a 10kW laser in a Skyshield 3 turret, coupled with its Skyguard system, to engage mortar rounds, and kill a UAV. They, too, are pushing toward the 100 kW goal, but add that even current systems have proven to […]