VOA常速英语:US General Eyes Laser Defense to Boost Air Tanker Security

Airtankers like this one carry out almost all aerial refueling for the US military.This latest version the new Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tanker comes equipped with technology to make it less detectable to enemies.
像这样的空中加油机几乎可以完成美军所有的空中加油任务。这个最新版本的波音KC-46 Pegasus加油机配备了新技术，使其不易被敌人察觉。

But less detectable isn’t the same as undetectable, and that’s a big problem for tankers and the bombers and fighter jets they refuel.
但是不易被察觉不等于不会被察觉，这对加油机以及其加油的轰炸机和喷气式战斗机来说是个大问题。

Our tankers, because they’re so vulnerable, we have to keep them far outside the threat ring of an adversary.That means that our planes cannot go as far in to, you know, enemy territory before they have to turn around to come back and hit the tanker again.
我们的加油机，它们非常容易受到攻击，所以我们必须让它们远离敌人的威胁。也就是说，我们的飞机必须先掉头回来，再次通过加油机进行加油，才能深入到敌国领土。

Air Force General Carlton Everhart tells VOA the Air Force is working on an unconventional solution.I said, “hey, I need a laser. I need to protect our airplanes.”Well, guess what? In about two years we’re gonna be testing a laser on the airplane.
空军上将卡尔顿·埃弗哈特告诉美国之音记者，空军正在研究一种非常规的解决方案。我说，“嘿，我需要激光，我需要保护我们的飞机。”你猜怎么着？差不多再用两年时间我们就可以在飞机上测试激光效果了。This battle scenes from Star Wars come to mind.With laser shooting, adversaries into oblivion. Everhart says that’s not the idea.
这是《星球大战》中的战斗场景，随着激光武器的发射，敌人灰飞烟灭。埃弗哈特称这并不是他们的意图。

Is this an offensive weapon? No, it’s a purely defensive weapon.
这是攻击性武器吗？不，这完全是防御性武器。

Aerospace expert Todd Harrison explains.The laser basically could be used to blind the sensors on another aircraft or an incoming missile or if it’s a high enough power laser,it could actually be used to burn a hole or to weaken the skin of an incoming missile or aircraft.
航空航天专家托德·哈里森解释道，激光基本上可以用来屏蔽另一架飞机或来袭导弹上的传感器，如果它有足够高的激光功率，那么它就可以烧出一个洞或破坏掉来袭导弹或飞机的外壳。

Harrison points out defensive lasers would likely take years of testing before they are fully operational.But he says General Everhart’s dream of putting this technology on tankers would have one major advantage.
哈里森指出，防御性激光武器可能要经过多年的测试才能完全投入使用。但他表示，埃弗哈特上将想要将这项技术应用于加油机的想法有一个重大优势。The great thing about having a laser is your defensive mechanism as all it needs is more electrical power and it can keep firing, so you have virtually an unlimited number of shots.
有激光的好处会体现在你的防御机制上，因为它需要更多的电力才可以持续射击，所以有激光的话其实就等于你可以无限次射击。

Small shots that US military officials say could have a big impact on the battle space.
美国军方所称的小规模射击可能会对战斗空间产生重大影响。

That allows us to stay on station, that allows us to be able to, you know, support our...the fighter and bomber aircraft as we need to...as we execute war.So, yeah, those things are coming on right now. I’m pretty excited about it.
这使我们能够留在指挥站，当我们真的身处战争中时，能够支援这些战斗机和轰炸机。是的，这些事情马上就要成真了，我对此很兴奋。

Air Force officials are hopeful they can add laser technology on these tankers over the next decade.
空军官员希望他们能在未来十年内，在这些加油机上配备激光技术。

Carla Babb VOA news the Pentagon.
美国之音记者Carla Babb五角大楼报道。