The amount of laser pulse energy needed to burn through
or cause impulsive spalling on the inner surface of a
four inch armour-grade steel plate is just incredible.
The practicality of punching through with a HEAT warhead
(any modern LAW will do) or a long rod saboted penetrator
from a HV gun is obvious.
We've spent billions of dollars trying to develop lasers
powerful enough to do about as much damage to a missile
as a few shotgun blasts (<5). Nonhardened targets are
vulnerable to lasers. Hardened ones are for all practical
purposes much better broken with kinetic penetrators of
some sort.
- -george william herbert
[email removed]