British scientists develop disorientating laser weapon to defend ships from Somali pirates

t's an invention that will send a shiver down the spines of pirates everywhere.
A new type of laser weapon effective against moving targets more than a mile away is being developed by British scientists.
Defence company BAE Systems has come up with the non-lethal device in response to the increasing number of commercial, and private, vessels hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
The laser works by enshrouding the ship using it in a green shroud that leaves the pirates unable to steer a direct course or aim their weapons accurately.

Anti-piracy weapon: A laser developed by British scientists works by enshrouding the ship using it in a green shroud that leaves pirates unable to steer a direct course or aim their weapons accurately (file picture)

The device, which works in daylight and at night, has been subjected to trials at the Pershore Lasers Trials Range in Worcestershire.
Roy Clarke, spokesman for BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre, said: 'We are using the laser as a kind of dummy sun that we can hide the vessel behind.
'As you go up in power with a laser, you get to a point looking at it creates a big bright light that dominates everything in your field of view.


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