US Navy Successfully Tests New Laser Weapons System (VIDEO)

The US Navy conducted successful field tests of a new laser weapon system for the second time in history.

USNI News reports that the test took place in the Persian Gulf and high-ranking officials in the military command structure have authorized the laser's use if the ship carrying it should come under attack.

The laser is currently mounted on the USS Ponce, a transport ship.

The laser is 30 kilowatts and cost $40 million. The formal name of the laser is "Laser Weapon System," and it is known by the acronym of "LaWS," according to USNI. The laser was able to knock a small drone from the sky, stop the engine of a small boat, and detonate a munition that was placed as target practice.

The weapon has not been approved for use on humans because of the Geneva Convention, according to USNI.

The laser is not limited to offensive purposes. Because of its highly advanced optics it is also able to detect threats from long distances.

The Navy plans to test stronger versions of the laser in 2015 and 2016. Those lasers will draw on anywhere from 100 to 150 kilowatts of energy.

The Guardian notes that a major attraction of the laser for the US Navy is its low operational cost. While guided missiles and other traditional munitions can cost millions upon millions of dollars, each shot with the LaWS costs only $.59

The desire to cut costs is a major motivation behind a number of military technology initiatives such as making the military completely reliant upon "green" technology for its energy.

It is also the motivation behind the Navy's electromagnetic railgun, which would use electricity rather than gunpowder or fuel to send munitions extremely long distances at high speeds.

You can see a video of the LaWS demonstration below.