导读:英国拟签订激光武器研发合约，“星战”激光武器或于两年内问世
Britain’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) confirmed Sunday it is finalizing a contract worth almost 40 million US dollars to develop the country’s first laser weapons for military use.
英国国防部（MOD）星期日证实，将敲定一项价值近4000万美元的合同，研发英国第一代用于军事用途的激光武器。
The contract with British firm MBDA UK will see the development of a Laser Directed Energy Weapon Capability Demonstrator,
这份与英国欧洲导弹集团（MBDA）签订的合同将推动激光定向能武器演示设备的发展。
The project will assess innovative laser directed energy weapon technologies and approaches, culminating in a demonstration of the system in 2018/19, said the MOD.
国防部称，该项目将评估研发激光定向能武器的技术和方法，并将演示设备定于2018或者2019年交付使用。
Called Dragonfire, it sounds like something straight from science fiction movie such as Star Wars. What would be Britain’s first laser weapon, was capable of being mounted on ships to shoot down enemy jets and missiles or even used by ground forces to destroy incoming mortar rounds.
“我们将它命名为‘龙火’，这听起来就像是直接从科幻电影如星球大战里出来的东西。它将是英国的第一代激光武器，能够安装在船上击落敌人的飞机和导弹，甚至让地面部队使用来摧毁来袭的迫击炮弹。
It could replace conventional systems, offering a lower cost and more efficient alternative to current weapons. A laser only needs a power source to fire, whereas conventional weapons need ammunition or use missiles, which relatively expensive and take up space.
它可以取代传统的武器系统，比起现阶段的武器，这类替代武器成本更低、打击效果更强。一个激光只需要一个电源来射击，相比之下，传统武器需要弹药或导弹，耗资相对靡费且占用空间。
The company behind the technology, MBDA UK, say the initiative will put Britain at the forefront of laser system technology.
负责开发该技术的欧洲导弹集团英国分公司称这项发明将使英国处在激光系统技术前沿。
MBDA spokesman Dave Armstrong said: "Dragonfire will put the UK at the forefront of high energy laser systems, capitalizing on the experience of joint MoD/Industry working in the complex weapons environment.
欧洲导弹集团发言人戴维·阿姆斯特朗（Dave Armstrong）说：“通过相互借鉴器国防部与本行业在复杂环境下工作的经验 ，‘龙火’会使英国在高能激光系统方面走在前列。
"Furthermore, it advances the UK towards a future product with significant export potential, as well as providing opportunities for partnerships with other nations’ armed forces that have similar requirements."
“此外，这项发明不仅会给英国带来具有非常重大出口潜力的产品，也会给英国带来更多机会，让英国与同样有这方面需要的他国军队合作。”
“The MOD said the contract will assess how the system can acquire and track targets at range, in varying weather conditions, over land and water, and, crucially, with sufficient precision to enable safe and effective engagement.
国防部说，该合同将评估系统如何在不同的天气条件下在地表或者水下在打击范围内获取和跟踪目标，以及最重要的是，怎样达到足够的精度，从而保证激光武器既安全又高效。
Nick Joad, from the MOD’s Defense Science and Technology (Dstl) said the project is being made possible under a disruptive capabilities initiative that the MOD is delivering to ensure it retains the ability to have a decisive edge through the use of advanced technology.
来自国防科技实验室（DSTL）的尼克·乔德（Nick Joad）表示，国防部决心通过使用先进的技术来确保自己可以占据决定性优势，这个项目就是在这追求颠覆性能力的主张下才得以规划的。
Dstl’s Peter Cooper said: "This is a significant demonstration program aimed at maturing our understanding of what is still an immature technology. It draws on innovative research into high power lasers so as to understand the potential of the technology to provide a more effective response to the emerging threats that could be faced by UK armed forces."
国防科技实验室的彼得·库伯（Peter Cooper）说：“这是一个重要的演示程序，目的在于深化我们对一个尚未成熟的技术的理解。它借鉴了高功率激光器的创新研究，以了解该技术的潜力，为英国军队可能面临的威胁提供一个更有效的应对方法。
Rear Admiral Paul Bennett said the Royal Navy remains committed to the rapid exploitation of revolutionary concepts and scientific advances.
海军少将保罗·班内特（Paul Bennett）说，皇家海军仍然致力于探索快速探索革新理念、促进科学进步。
"The project sits alongside other cutting edge initiatives that together keep the Royal Navy at the forefront of change and well placed to be an early adopter of innovative technologies," said Bennett.
班内特说，“激光技术以及其它尖端的发明使得皇家海军得以处在世界变革的前沿，成为了创新科技的领头人。”
