The US Navy has dismissed a laser gun from a of its ships is to initial time.
Researchers used the high-energy laser (HEL) to turn off a vessel by surroundings glow to its engines off the coastline of California.
Similar systems had formerly been tested on land, however wet sea air presented an additional dare as it reduces a beam's power.
The army mentioned that ship-borne lasers could finally be used to safeguard vessels from tiny assault boats.
The US military has been experimenting with laser guns given the 1970s.
Early systems used large, chemical-based lasers that tended to create dangerous waste products gases.
More recently, scientists have created plain state lasers that mix considerable figures of condensed lamp generators, identical to LEDs.
Until now, sufficient of the growth of HELs has focused on sharpened down bombs or hitting land-based targets.
The ultimate round of tests showed its wider possibilities, according to Peter Morrison from the Office of Naval Research.
"This assessment provides an critical information indicate as you pierce toward putting destined appetite on warships.
"There is still sufficient work to do to ensure it's completed safely and efficiently," he said.
While a weaponised network would expected be limited to military vessels, businessman shipping has moreover voiced an fascination in laser technology.
A gun that uses manifest laser light to at the moment blind pirates was announced by BAE Systems in 2010.
The technology is still being tested, forward of a blurb launch.
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