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The ultimate laser cannon: 'Gatling gun' can focus multiple beams to create super powerful weapons

Demonstration showed four 20 kilowatt lasers fire simultaneously
German firm behind it says an 'unlimited' number can be combined
Expected to initially be used to shoot drones out of the sky

Published: 17:44 EST, 24 September 2015 | Updated: 18:20 EST, 24 September 2015

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A German firm has revealed a powerful new laser 'gatling gun'.

At the controversial defense and security expo in London German defense contractor Rheinmetall Defense Electronics unveiled the new sea based system.

It says it can be mounted on ships as part of a new sea-based anti-drone laser system.

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The four 20 kilowatt lasers fire simultaneously as a single powerful 80 kilowatt beam. The firm boasts units can even be combined for 'unlimited' power.

HOW IT WORKS

The four 20 kilowatt lasers fire simultaneously, in a technique known as superimposition which combines them into a single powerful 80 kilowatt beam.

The firm boasts units can even be combined to give 'unlimited' power.

The four 20 kilowatt lasers fire simultaneously, in a technique known as superimposition which combines them into a single powerful 80 kilowatt beam.

The Gatling laser can reportedly shoot down a drone at 500 meters.

Lasers can also detonate ammunition, explode artillery shells, blind the sensors of another ship, and even burn holes in smaller ships.

The firm boasts units can even be combined to give 'unlimited' power.

'The beam-forming unit provides diffraction-limited beam focusing, target imaging and fine tracking of the target,' it said.

'By using beam-superimposing technology, Rheinmetall has concentrated the power of single laser beams into one tiny spot.

This technology not only allows superimposition of multiple laser beams on a single gun platform, but also superimposition of multiple gun platforms.

'This enables an almost unlimited (e.g. 100kW and more) power output in line with the evolving air defence requirement.

At the London show, the firm demonstrated an Oerlikon Skyshield turret with integrated HELeffector as well as a newly developed powerful HEL effector for naval applications.

'Highly precise, scalable in effect, versatile in tactical situations, ready for deployment on land and at sea - high energy laser effectors will play a major role in future armament concepts,' the firm says

'With its unique concept of multiple high-energy laser beams superimposed and focused on one spot on the target, Rheinmetall leads the way among European defence contractors in this new field,' the firm said.

'After six years of continuously demonstrating a growing capability, a new Rheinmetall air defence application has emerged that is attracting interest worldwide - shooting drones.'

Dubbed the low, slow and small (LSS) threat, it has huge potential to create a highly unbalanced situation between conventional defenders and mainly asymmetrically operating attackers.

New missions, such as the defence of high visibility events, pose unsolved challenges for contemporary air defence systems that will only be manageable with high energy lasers serving as effectors.

The Gatling laser can reportedly shoot down a drone at 500 meters.

It uses an Oerlikon Skyshield or Skyguard fire control unit for target acquisition and weapon control, coupled with an Oerlikon highenergy laser gun using a revolver gun turret equipped with HEL effectors.

Each HEL effector consists of one 10 kW fibre laser and a beam-forming unit.

Commercial off the-shelf fibre lasers were modified for an air defence role.

Variants of the same technology are also available for ground and naval operations.