How long until direct energy weapons make missiles obsolete?

Obviously the light itself will be fast enough to catch them, the trouble comes with a system that can target a hypersonic. These things travle a minimum of mach 5 and a max of 10.

Also we can put mirrors on our missiles.

These sound like problems that could be overcome by just using more powerful lasers.

Network an array of lasers operating in a wide range of frequencies

Mirrors would still work. No joke the only real feasible way to stop a hypersonic once in flight would have too be some kinda force field tech waiting for it.

When we figure out photon torpedoes.

It's not about "catching the missile," it's about time on target once it gets in range. A missile going at mach five will be going so fast, a laser will likely have less than a second to destroy it before it hits. Right now, lasers take a few seconds to destroy missiles. That's improving, but it'll never be instantaneous.

Mirrors don't reflect at all frequencies, and even ones that reflect at the proper frequencies still absorb enough energy fast enough to be a non-issue. Ablative tiling like what you find on spacecraft heatshields is the best way to mitigate laser heating.

They do not work. Mirrors don't reflect 100% of whatever band of EM waves they absorb, and once the temperature climbs to the point that the lasers burns and its absorption spectrum changes, the laser might as well not be there.

Couple decades until we get into the magawatt range.

Another solution might be another form of directed energy like a partical beam.

If you think mirrors would work you don't know enough about this topic to comment.

You think we are talking about a bathroom mirror you retard, a sophisticated enough mirror system will render any laser array useless.

A sophisticated enough mirror system will make the missile too heavy

when energy technology makes it practical.

>Shoots at glass
>Dies
Works every time

>How long until direct energy weapons make missiles obsolete?
How long until AAA makes aircraft obsolete?
How long until AP rounds make armor obsolete?
How long until ASMs make carriers obsolete?
How long until point defense weapons make ASMs obsolete?
How long until AT missiles obsolete?
How long until a mouth-shaped fleshlight makes OP obsolete?

Most of these things still have some life in them. Weapon obsolescence is as much a factor of your opponent's technology as your own. For instance, by any number of reasonable measures, artillery is obsolete. It's inferior to missiles in every way but cost. Yet artillery is still an important component of almost every conventional military. Likewise, there are reasonable arguments that the A10 is obsolete, but it's perfectly suitable for destroying low-tech opponents.

2 words - flying mirror

This guy gets it.

All are viable,except for OP.

not until multiple countries predisposed to be at war with each other have the capability. when the US gets it first, china and russia will really just have to accept that we have the incontestably big cock. call me but an optimist, but i think that the US will seek to maintain the status quo rather than wage war. it's when shithead countries like china and russia get it too, that's when shit could get sketchy.

Once we get one on a plane but even then you'll still have uses for missiles.

Just cover missile in highly reflective material. Gtg

Your move Lazniggers

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