(UTN/UAS/ATIS) Laser Weaponry

|| IMAGES:
(Top Left): HAL1-B Laser Cannon Turret
(Top Right): HAL2-B Laser Cannon Turret
(Mid Left): HAL3-B Lance Laser Cannon Turret

Lasers as weapons first appeared in the 21st century, where they were mainly used to destroy missiles in early experiments. In 2041, the Western Alliance successfully developed a ship-based weaponised laser system called Project Diamond. Due to the massive energy requirements of high-power lasers, Project Diamond could only be fitted to water-based navy ships with nuclear reactors. The innovation of the nuclear Fusion Reactor in 2049, pushed the boundaries of laser-based weapons even further.

Lasers as weapons have developed considerably since Project Diamond, seeing use in the UTN Armed Forces from Point-Defence Pulse Lasers to Heavy Fusion Lasers designed to melt through warship armour. Though not in as widespread use as Nuclear/Kinetic weapons such as Fusion Impulse Drivers, the Laser remained important part of the Federal Navy's arsenal up until the fall of 4040 A.D.

The UAS Navy employs a wide variety of laser-based weapons ranging from Point-Defence to anti-ship Heavy Laser Cannons - favoured for their essentially instantaneous propagation in CQC, resulting in extremely high accuracy.

|| Known Variants:

NAME: B-Type 'HAL1-B' Heavy Laser Cannon
OPERATORS: UAS Federal Navy (4299-4402), UAS Federal Security Forces (4402-present), ATIS Imperial Navy (4402-present)
IMAGE: (Top left)

Heavy Assault Laser classification "B", is a B-type heavy laser weapon developed by UAS Federal Navy based on design aspects from the thousand-year old Heavy laser designs in use by the Old Federation. The HAL series features increased efficiency and superior conducting materials resulting in lower heat output for the same amount of energy transfer. "HAL1" is deployed in variants of almost all UAS navy ships with "B" type mounts, such as the VE-AX Heavy Cruiser and is often employed in close range combat for precision targeting of subsystems such as turreted batteries or sensor probes. The weapon has also seen success as an anti-torpedo defence system; attributed to its high energy output, greater than most dome-emmitance, laser-based Point-Defence Systems.

Energy Output: 350-400 MW
Muzzle Velocity: =< 299,792,458 m/s
Bore Diameter: 110mm Focus Chamber, 15mm Emittance Tunnel
Maximum turreted configuration: Dual B

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NAME: B-Type 'HAL2-B' Heavy Laser Cannon
OPERATORS: UAS Federal Navy (4299-4402), ATIS Imperial Navy (4402-present)
IMAGE: (Top right)

Heavy Assault Laser classification "B", Series 2; or 'HAL2' is an upgraded version of the standard Heavy Assault Laser platform. The upgraded weapon system features higher energy output and better cooling, along with an improved optic lens. HAL2 was first deployed on the EV-AX Evolution-class Supercarriers, but has yet to replace the HAL1 in full UAS service.

Energy Output: 425-450 MW
Muzzle Velocity: =< 299,792,458 m/s
Bore Diameter: 110mm Focus Chamber, 20mm Emittance Tunnel
Maximum turreted configuration: Dual B

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NAME: B-Type 'HAL3-B Lance' Heavy Laser Cannon
OPERATORS: ATIS Aquarian Imperial Navy
IMAGE: (Mid Left)

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Energy Output: --
Muzzle Velocity: =< 299,792,458 m/s
Bore Diameter: --
Maximum turreted configuration: --

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