Published on Mar 19, 2014
PROVIDED BY CNNNEXT.COM
Lasers and rail guns are set to enter into service for the US Navy later this year.
Long found in sci-fi literature and movies such as Star Wars, the weapons will be used against "asymmetrical" and other threats, according to the Navy.
The lasers will be able to fry electronic components and burn through targets, while the rail guns are capable of firing projectiles at several times the speed of sound.
Although cheaper than more-conventional missiles and smart bombs, there are still some engineering difficulties to be worked out in order to make them practical for wider use.
Gayane Chichakyan examines this new weapon technology.
