#FutureWeapons

The United States Army is on track to select a defense contractor in 2020 for its Next Generation Squad Weapon. Defense contractors General Dynamics, SIG Sauer, and the Conglomerate Textron have been narrowed down as the three finalists for next year’s contract award. The United States Army is making the requirement for a “smart rail” system to be equipped on the weapon. This technology is a communication and power interface between digital technology and the physical gun.

I love science fiction. Its ability to create universes not constrained by our practical reality is alluring. However, authors have a tendency not to take too many liberties from current reality in terms of weaponry, of which Star Wars is no different. While moving from mainly kinetic projectiles to light or laser powered weaponry, the fundamentals of what makes up a weapon remain largely the same.

The Motley Fool (warning – investing advise website) reports that Boeing (the one that makes airplanes) has released the Compact Laser Weapon System (LWS), a 650-lbs multi-case system for ground battlefield laser weapon deployment. The LWS is designed to track aircraft, incoming artillery rounds, and UAVs.