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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Ratings}} |
| {{Wikipedia|Directed-energy weapon}} | | {{Cleanup}} |
| A '''directed-energy weapon''' ('''DEW''') is a type of weapon that uses a non-solid projectile with a high enthalpy (kinetic and thermal energy) rather than solid ballistic ammunition. It transfers energy to a target for the desired effect. | | A '''Directed Energy Weapon''' (or '''DEW''') is a type of weapon that delivers a non-solid projectile with a high enthalpy (kinetic and thermal). It transfers energy to a target for a desired effect. Some of these weapons are real or in development; others are at present only science fiction. |
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| ==Lasers== | | ==Lasers== |
| [[File:M6 Spartan Laser.png|200px|thumb|The UNSC's only infantry laser weapon, the ''Spartan Laser'' or ''Galilean''.]]
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| {{Main|Laser}} | | {{Main|Laser}} |
| Lasers are used for a wide array of functions, ranging from repair equipment to weaponry. [[Pulse laser turret]]s are standard armament on Covenant warships and, unusually, [[UNSC prowler|UNSC Prowlers]], and are used for precision strikes against small targets, intercepting incoming missiles and fighters,<ref name="FoR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page ??''</ref> and general point-defense. Other lasers are used to repair equipment by both the Covenant,<ref name="ContactHarvest">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page ??''</ref> and the UNSC<ref name="FirstStrike">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page ??''</ref> while the only infantry-portable laser weapon is used by the UNSC, the [[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle]] or "Spartan Laser". During the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC began using nuclear bomb-pumped X-ray lasers as warheads for anti-ship missiles, such as the [[Bident missile|M4020 Bident]] used by [[Epoch-class heavy carrier|''Epoch''-class heavy carriers]].<ref name="Warfleet17">'''[[Halo: Warfleet]]''', ''page 17''</ref> In the post-war era, [[Hannibal Weapon Systems]] has experimented with mounting laser weaponry on its testbed [[XM820B4 Scorpion]] tanks.<ref>''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.</ref> | | [[Image:M6 Spartan Laser.jpg|thumb|The UNSC's only infantry laser weapon, the Spartan Laser or Galilean]] |
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| | Lasers are used for a wide array of functions, ranging from repair equipment to weaponry. [[Pulse Laser]]s are standard armament on Covenant warships and, unusually, to [[UNSC Prowler]]s, and are used for precision strikes against small targets, intercepting incoming missiles and fighters<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]</ref>, and general point-defence. Other lasers are used to repair equipment by both the Covenant<ref>''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''</ref> and UNSC<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]''</ref>, while the only infantry-portable laser weapon is used by the UNSC, the Galilean or "[[Spartan Laser]]". |
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| ==Plasma== | | ==Plasma== |
| [[File:Plasma Rifles.jpg|thumb|200px|One of the most commonly used directed-energy weapons, the {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}.]] | | {{Main|Plasma Torpedo}} |
| {{Main|Plasma weaponry}}
| | [[Image:Plasma Rifles.jpg|left|200px|thumb|One of the most commonly used Directed Energy Weapons, the [[Plasma Rifle]]]] |
| The Covenant's most common weapon type, however, is superheated plasma that is contained within a controlled magnetic field, able to be guided to a target and dealing heavy damage. Ship-mounted plasma weapons can launch torpedoes, capable of tracking their targets with precision, making them devastating in ship-to-ship combat, or can fire very large streams of plasma from afar to "[[glassing|glass]]" a planet's surface from orbit. Vehicle-mounted plasma weapons usually have a high rate of fire, but lack guidance systems. Infantry weapons commonly use guided plasma, such as the Plasma Rifle, [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]], and the [[Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|Plasma Grenade]]. Towards the end of the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC began using nuclear-pumped "focused plasma spears" in ship-to-ship missile warheads.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet17}}
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| ==Electrolaser==
| | The Covenant's most common weapon type, however, is superheated plasma that is contained within a controlled magnetic field, able to be guided to a target and dealing heavy damage. Ship-mounted plasma weapons can launch torpedoes, capable of tracking their targets with precision, making them devastating in ship-to-ship combat, or can fire very large streams of plasma from afar to glass a planet's surface from orbit. Vehicle-mounted plasma weapons usually have a high rate of fire, but lack the guidance systems. Infantry weapons commonly use guided plasma, such as the [[Plasma Rifle]], [[Plasma Pistol]], and the [[Plasma Grenade]]. |
| [[File:HINF ShockRifle.png|200px|thumb|A [[Sicatt Workshop shock rifle]].]]
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| Weapons that make use of electrolasers include the [[Banished]]-made [[Sicatt Workshop shock rifle]]. This weapon's electrolasers consist of electromagnetically-guided plasma beams capable of disabling electronics components of vehicles and even [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]] via [[electromagnetic pulse]].{{Ref/Book|Id=EN|Enc22|Page=477}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR21|HSoR|Chapter=21}}
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| ==Particle beam weapons== | | ==Particle Beam Weapons== |
| [[File:Bnetbeamrifle.jpg|200px|thumb|A [[Type-50 particle beam rifle]].]] | | {{Main|Particle Beam Weapon}} |
| {{Main|Particle beam weapon}}
| | [[Image:Bnetbeamrifle.jpg|thumb|A [[Particle Beam Rifle]].]] |
| The Covenant also uses accelerated particles as weaponry, such as the devastating capital ship mounted [[energy projector]] and the infantry [[Type-50 particle beam rifle]]. These weapons use charged or neutral particles and may appear similar to lasers though the differences are extensive. Though humans have an understanding of accelerated particle technology they have not yet used it for weaponry.
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| ==Ionized Particles==
| | The Covenant also use accelerated particles as weaponry, such as the devastating capitol-ship mounted [[Energy Projector]] and the infantry [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System]]. These weapons use charged or neutral particles, and may appear similar to lasers though the differences are extensive. Though humans have an understanding of accelerated particle technology they have not yet used it for weaponry. |
| [[File:H4-Scattershot.png|250px|thumb|A [[Z-180 Close Combat Rifle/Asymmetric Engagement Mitigator|Scattershot]].]] | |
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| Not much is known about this type of weapon other than it is exclusive to the Forerunners and shares traits from both plasma and particle beam weapons. [[Z-1500 Automated Systems Drone|Aggressor Sentinels]] use a powerful continuous firing beam type called the [[Sentinel Beam]] as their main weapons. Many [[Promethean]] weapons are this type and have a tendency to disintegrate targets, and bounce off solid surfaces. The ionized particles fired by these weapons can come in a variety of colors, including gold, orange, purple, and blue.
| | As of the early 21<sup>st</sup> century, humanity had developed particle accelerators, but the machinery needed to work one is massive. At this time, humans also did not understand how particles at such speeds interacted with other matter. |
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| ==Hard light== | | ==References== |
| [[File:H5G-Lightrifle.png|200px|thumb|A [[Z-250 lightrifle]].]] | | <references/> |
| {{Main|Hard light}}
| | [[Category:Science]] |
| Weaponized hard light seems to be exclusive to the Forerunners as the Covenant never managed to fully reverse-engineer the technology.
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| ==Sources==
| | [[Category:Technology]] |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
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| [[Category:Weapons|Directed-energy weapon]] | | [[Category:The Covenant]] |
| [[Category:Directed-energy weapons|Directed-energy weapon]]
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