USAF, Boeing Fire Laser with Recycled Chemicals

A laser using recycled fuel was fired recently in New Mexico by the US Air Force and the Boeing Company’s Directed Energy System of Canoga Park, Calif. The chemical laser was supplied with its two main fuels — basic hydrogen peroxide and chlorine — regenerated from waste products produced during prior laser operations. The laser was fired at high power, on the order of several kilowatts. The fuel recycling process provides a practical way to fuel laser weapons without the complexity and cost of supplying new fuel to the battlefield.