Lasers to aid machine guns aboard ships.

• Author: Beidel, Eric
• Position: Defense Technology Newswire

Sailors soon may have a new weapon to use on the high seas, one that combines the precision of directed energy with the lethal power of a machine gun.

BAE Systems and Boeing have teamed up to develop the MK 38 Mod 2 Tactical Laser System for the U.S. Navy to help defend its ships. It couples a solid-state, high-energy laser weapon module with the remote-control MK 38 machine gun, which fires more than 180 rounds per minute.

The laser portion of the weapon will be able to deliver different amounts of energy. Enough power can be fired toward a target to disrupt or destroy optics, burn materials and disable weapons, a Boeing spokesperson said.

An operator can switch between the machine gun and laser and control and fire each as the situation dictates. The two also can be used in tandem, with the laser locating and locking onto a target for the machine gun to fire at. The addition of the 10-kilowatt laser will improve...