Taiwan is poised to roll out a prototype 50-kilowatt (kW) vehicle-mounted laser weapon system by the end of the year, thanks to technical breakthroughs made possible through global assistance, a defense official said yesterday on condition of anonymity.
The project, which last year produced a low-powered prototype, is expected to create a full-powered system mounted on CM-32 Clouded Leopard wheeled armored vehicles for use against missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles, the official said.
The state-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology has made great advancements in the project over a relatively short period with technological assistance from “international friends,” they said.
Photo: screen grab from Raytheon’s Web site
A 50kW laser possesses enough raw power output for combat applications, and the institute hopes that the system would be adopted by Taiwanese armed forces following the completion of trials and demonstrations, they said.
Members of the institute involved in the project have published articles in military journals exploring the operational potential of coupling directed-energy weapons with the army’s AN/TWQ-1 Avenger air defense vehicles, the official said.
The articles discuss the possible utilization of a laser system against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Chengdu GJ-1 series of drones, as well as rocket and missile weapons, they said.
Directed-energy weapons are an emerging class of air-defense systems being developed to supplement conventional weapons, which are more expensive to fire and could be overwhelmed by a large number of drones or missiles.
Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett has said that the estimated cost for intercepting Hamas missiles with a laser weapon is about US$3.50 per shot, whereas a Tamir interceptor, utilized in Israel’s Iron Dome system, costs US$40,000 to US$50,000.
Earlier this week, US defense media reported that four Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense prototypes had been dispatched to the Middle East to test “real-world applicability” operating in dusty conditions.
Directed-energy weapons are electromagnetic systems that convert chemical or electrical energy to radiate focused energy on a target to cause physical damage that degrades, neutralizes, defeats or destroys a hostile capability, according to the US Office of Naval Research.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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