Military: Killer particle beams: Despite continuing research, the feasibility of building particle-beam weapons and the wisdom of using them remain highly uncertain

Abstract

The Reagan Administration's announced commitment to more than double military spending in the the next four years has rekindled interest in directed-energy weapons that can expand U.S. military power into outer space. Such weapons would use either laser beams or streams of charged or neutral particles, such as electrons or protons, to shoot down missiles. Though most of the money and effort in directed-energy work is being devoted to developing laser weapons, which are thought to be nearer to realization, the potential vulnerability of lasers to simple counter-measures such as reflective coatings has heightened defense interest in particle-beam weapons. In addition, controversial reports that the Soviet Union is far ahead in the development of such weapons have been used to bolster some military analysts' arguments that a much expanded U.S. effort in beam weapons is required.