Smoke, mirrors and the GBU - 12

"Xenia Dragon" wrote in message
om...

snip
Question - how many times per second is the
recognition code transmitted on the beam or
is it continuous? When the laser is reflected
off of the target how widely dispersed does
the beam become and what happens to information
encoded in the laser beam? (If I am not
understanding the process, please explain.)

The laser light is a carrier, just like a radio signal. The easiest way to
modulate information onto a laser is acoustically.

Assuming that countermeasures
are designed for a particularly costly and
sensitive military asset, what would be the
approximate configuration of kit designed to
acquire the beam, decode the signal, and turn
on countermeasures to make the bomb miss?

A laser is very directional and intercepting the signal would require you to
be in line of sight between the laser and the designated target. This may
not be a survivable place to be, as you are now lased.

...because of course you cannot stop F15s from
flying or their bombs from being dropped.

Some have tried.