So /k/, what is the viability of beam weaponry? Memes aside,

>>32791060
Not viable at all with the amount of power needed to weaponize a laser. Other than giant ship mounted lasers for intercepting missiles.

There's better cheaper ways to kill/burn/blind people.

it's also a war crime

>>32791060
Handheld lasers are just sci-fi for now.

However, I can see large weaponized lasers being used on space ships, if warfare ever gets into space.

There's youtube videos of handheld lasers strong enough to burn paper, I assume they are terrible to your eyesight even at considerable distance

>A laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) is formed by the following process: A laser emits a laser beam into the air. The laser beam rapidly heats and ionizes surrounding gases to form plasma. The plasma forms an electrically conductive plasma channel.

>>32791060
Theoretically viable, sure, but functionally cost ineffective and too contextual. Like that shit wouldn't work in the rain, or be easily dispersed by smoke or even large amounts of dust in the air, severely limited range and operational time (power sources).

Traditional kinetic weapons are more space efficient, cost effective, and can field much more 'firepower' to an engagement in most standard scenarios (infantry arms, artillery).

DEWs aren't a total wash; they do have pretty niche applications like anti-missile and anti-satellite and crowd control, but frankly unless there's some kind of paradigm shift in material sciences and energy storage there is no good reason to try expand the role of DEWs at this time; because anything with sufficient destructive potential for modern warfare use will be REALLY FUCKING BIG per current power storage/generation technology. Anything man portable would either be extremely bulky, or have a very very short operational time and range.

>>32791060
http://www.uawire.org/news/three-ukrainian-border-guards-in-the-donbas-suffer-retina-burns-after-being-shot-with-laser-pointers

>>32791060
>beam weaponry
Please use actual terms that mean something.

Lasers will never be as satisfying as the feeling of gun in your hands.

>>32793561
LASER.

>>32793605
said who?having a beam burning everything is more entertaining than a gun.

Laser weapons have some major drawbacks that can limit their range and power, such as fog, smoke, reflective surfaces, surfaces designed to absorb light energy and heatsink it off, and walls. They're cool toys, but not for warfare.

Other wave spectrum weapons such as microwave and gamma ray weapons are much more damaging and useful.