One thing that this technology would achieve is a diminishing reliance on diesel fuel to power generators across military theaters. Soldiers in all parts of the world rely on electric power to eat, communicate, secure their facilities, and of course, wage war effectively when the situation demands it.
One thing that is often forgotten about when considering the technology and logistics of warfare is the sheer volume of transportation equipment and electrical power that is required to maintain an efficient fighting force. Modern War Institute reports that diesel fuel is the go-to means of powering the standard forward operating base today (as part of a Vietnam-era “single fuel concept” designed to streamline the war effort), and a typical base requires as many as 22 gallons of diesel fuel per day to support each soldier stationed at the location (via Popular Mechanics). Diesel fuel is, by all accounts much worse for the environment than traditional unleaded fuel (via Transport & Environment). But when it comes to generating power, diesel is a much more effective option. Similarly, not only are diesel generators a major source of pollutants, but they are also loud and therefore draw an enormous amount of attention. The environmental impact alone on the soldiers who live at these bases and the communities that they exist in close proximity to would be drastically improved with the advent of new laser-based power generation capabilities.
This isn’t the first use of lasers in battlefield applications, and it certainly won’t be the last.
