Improvements to laser‐weapon technology could allow for it to be used for a wide variety of operations , including air‐to‐air combat , counter‐drone activities , and ground attack . Laser‐weapons could also provide a costeffective alternative to missiles in many combat scenarios . Current technologies are not suitable to install efficient laser‐weapons onto fighter aircraft , but this is one of the engineering projects that is being studied . Advancements in this technology could change the way that land is used to train pilots in the use of these systems , and it may be possible to have laser targets located in standing water . This could change the way DCR is used if parts of it become unusable for typical land‐based targets due to sea level rise .
Findings
• DCR is one of the coastal areas facing the greatest risks from sea level rise according to Legacy Project # 08‐410 .
• Considering the low elevation of the terrain , as sea level rises , range surface areas may become inundated with water to the point that utilizing the current roads , facilities , and targets may not be possible by the year 2100 according to the Legacy Project authors that evaluated the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sea level rise scenario .
• Although various studies and computer modeling show that coastal areas will experience land loss as sea level rises , potential future Weapon System and Platform Technology may advance in the future as to sustain DCR training operations .
Background Report