NationStates Jolt Archive

Xanthalian starships, while offensively above average, are best known for the strength of their defenses. Xanthalian capital ships have been known to stand up to concentrated fire from entire fleets for almost an hour. The Xanthalian Armada has begun a new program to strengthen ships' defense against missile and torpedo weapons, and the Xanthalian Military has stepped in to help as well realizing the potential benefit of such technology to surface and air combat. The goal of the project is to develop highly accurate, quick-firing Point Defense Lasers (PDLs). PDL technology is common, and many nations and species are known to posess it across the galaxy, but it will be new to the Republic when it becomes active in about two years. The goal of PDLs is to intercept an incoming warhead and destroy or disable it with a powerful laser. The laser projectors themselves are mounted on the object to be protected, whether it be a space station, starship, or fighter jet. When the system is active, it will target and eliminate incoming warheads automatically. Speed and accuracy are paramount, as the point defense lasers must precisely target incoming warheads while still being able to move from one target to the next with a rapidity capable of eliminating multiple targets before impact. Keeping in mind the enormous success many other nations have had with PDL technology, Xanthalian experts project that the successful implementation of such lasers on Xanthalian starships could almost completely eliminate non-energy weapons as a threat; thus meaning that the already incredible shielding already carried aboard most combat vessels would be able to last even longer against what does get through to impact them. "We're very excited," said the Minister of the Armada and Military at the announcement of the project's beginning yesterday. "PDL technology has been overlooked as a viable option for our forces for much too long."
The full effectiveness of the end product, of course, will not be known until the first prototype is tested late next year.

Initial tests of PDL technology on Xanthalian starships is proving to be very promising, and general installment on Xanthalian ships and facilities is scheduled for next year.