Boeing is currently under a $ 163 million contract to develop a superlaser for the U.S. Navy that will be used on board ships to neutralize missiles. The Navy's Free Electron Laser (FEL) program uses supercharged electrons generated by an injector to focus light across multiple wavelengths. This versatility to be able to switch between a broad range wavelengths makes the FEL much better than other lasers that usually operate in only one fixed wavelength.
For the laser to be able to shoot down missiles, at least 100 kilowatts of power is required. Earlier this year, the Office of Naval Research announced a breakthrough in the development of the laser that put the program nine months ahead of schedule. The breakthrough is a new injector tested last December that yielded enough electrons to produce a megawatt class laser beam. This is a huge step forward from the 14 kilowatt prototype laser the Navy originally had.
However, even with this new breakthrough, the laser is still years from becoming operational. Researchers predict that a shipboard test will not happen until 2018. However, once operational, the FEL will give the Navy a definite edge in maritime warfare. Operating at the speed of light, the laser does not have to be reloaded and is quiet compared to other conventional weapons. Also, the laser can act as a sensor, tracker or guidance system for other weapons onboard the ship.
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