Armored off-roader is capable of withstanding blasts from ballistic missiles:The Death Star weapon is here! equal to 1,000 times the planet's power consumption

'Marauder' can smash through walls, survive land mines and comes fitted with anti-ballistic armour as standard Armoured off-roader is capable of withstanding blasts from ballistic missiles and can smash through brick walls Manufacturers have received thousands of enquiries from members of the public eager to buy one of the Marauders The military vehicle is fitted with a six cylinder turbo diesel engine and can hit top speeds of up to 75mph on road An armoured off-roader capable of withstanding blasts from ballistic missiles and smashing through walls has been pictured roaring through a testing facility. The Marauder, described as being the world's most unstoppable vehicle, was put through its paces near Pretoria in South Africa. With its six cylinder turbo diesel engine, the armoured car can hit speeds of up to 75mph on road, and is strong enough to survive a land mine explosion. Scroll down for video +10 Unstoppable: The Marauder, described as being the world's most unstoppable vehicle, was put through its paces near Pretoria in South Africa +10 Making a splash: With its six cylinder turbo diesel engine, the armoured car can hit speeds of up to 75mph on road, and is strong enough to survive a land mine explosion +10 Raw power: The Marauder is so strong it can smash through brick walls at high speeds. It is pictured at a testing facility in South Africa +10 Strong line-up: The Paramount Group, who make the vehicle, have received thousands of enquiries from members of the public eager to buy one of the Marauders The military vehicle makes light work of rough terrain, despite weighing up to 20 tons when fully kitted-out with protective casing. The Paramount Group, who make the vehicle, have received thousands of enquiries from members of the public eager to buy one of the Marauders -  but the company only sells them to governments. Nico de Klerk from the Paramount Group said: 'It is a clean sheet design, one of the world's most advanced and modern armoured vehicles, it has very high levels of protection as standard against land mines and ballistic attacks. 'Only sovereign governments can purchase the vehicles. Also only governments that are approved by the South African government and the UN. Marauder: The off-roader capable of withstanding LAND MINES Duration Time1:24 Fullscreen   +10 The military vehicle makes light work of rough terrain, despite weighing up to 20 tons when fully kitted-out with protective casing +10 No barriers: The Marauder is pictured making light work of a wall at the test centre outside Pretoria in South Africa +10 The 20 ton marauder was originally developed for peacekeeping and reconnaissance missions by its makers Paramount Group THE MARAUDER: SPECIFICATIONS Weight: 20 tons Top speed: 75mph Capacity: eight troops Launch: 2007 Range: 435 miles Engine: 6-Cylinder Turbo-Diesel Protection: Double-skinned anti-mine armour 'It is by far the world's most iconic armoured vehicle.' Footage shot at testing facilities in South Africa shows the Marauder smashing through walls and withstanding an explosion from below. The Marauder is also filmed driving through water and tackling muddy hills. It was originally developed for peacekeeping and reconnaissance missions. The vehicle holds a crew of two in the front with space for eight fully equipped troops in the back. The tough and versatile Marauder has become one of the best-known armoured vehicles in the world since its launch in 2007. It was filmed being put through its paces at the Gerotek testing facility outside Pretoria, and the Paramount Group's very own Battle Creek facility near Rustenburg. +10 Ready for action: The tough and versatile Marauder has become one of the best-known armoured vehicles in the world since its launch in 2007 +10 The military vehicle carries eight fully equipped troops, a driver and a commander and can travel at speeds of up to 75mph - despite its size +10 Paramount Group says only sovereign governments can purchase the vehicles - even though the company gets plenty of interest from members of the public Watch Boeing test radical new 'silent strike' laser weapon small enough to fit in a suitcase but powerful enough to blast a drone out of the air Compact Laser Weapon System can track and attack moving aerial targets Can shoot down incoming artillery rounds, low-flying aircraft and drones Tests showed laser burning holes in front fairing of moving drone Boeing has revealed a radical new laser weapon small enough to fit into a suitcase - but poweful enough to blast a drone out of the sky. The company's new Compact Laser Weapon System (LWS) breaks down into four parts, each transportable by one or two Marines. It can be assembled in 15 minutes, and then destroy targets from up to 22 miles away with an an energy beam of up to 10 kilowatts. Scroll down for video +7 The Compact Laser Weapon System can be assembled in 15 minutes, and then destroy targets from up to 22 miles away with an an energy beam of up to 10 kilowatts. WHAT IT CAN DO LWS is designed specifically to track and attack moving aerial targets such as incoming artillery rounds, and low-flying aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. The weapon can be be assembled in just 15 minutes, LWS is capable of generating an energy beam of up to 2 kilowatts. Depending on the power level, be used to acquire, track, and identify a target - or even destroy it - at ranges of at least 22 miles. 'Silent, invisible and precise—Boeing's Compact Laser Weapons System harnesses directed energy on its targets,' the firm boasts. The system recently reached a milestone at an exercise at Point Mugu, Calif. by tracking and disabling a moving, untethered unmanned aerial vehicle. It works by focussing a laser. 'Think of it like a welding torch being put on a target - but from hundreds of metres away,' said Isaac Neil of Boeing. 'Once we turned the laser on, it was about 15 seconds until the drone was disabled. If you were on the receiving end, you'd have no idea where it was coming from or what was happening.' The weapons is a much smaller, significantly more portable version of the High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) Boeing revealed last year. The weapon can be be assembled in just 15 minutes, LWS is capable of generating an energy beam of up to 10 kilowatts that can, depending on the power level, be used to acquire, track, and identify a target - or even destroy it - at ranges of at least 22 miles. +7 Software automatically tracks the craft, before firing a sustained laser beam at it +7 Onboard cameras captured the fire onboard caused by the laser, causing it to crash The latest test saw the laser taking out a tethered drone (right) It is designed specifically to track and attack moving aerial targets such as incoming artillery rounds, and low-flying aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. U.S. Special Operations forces are currently testing LWS, with 'multiple' branches of the U.S. military expressing interest. Boeing's new compact laser brings down drones It breaks down into four parts, each transportable by one or two Marines. In total, the system weighs about 650 pounds and would probably be operated by a squad of eight to 12 soldiers or Marines. It has been designed to be the 'smaller brother'  of Boeings weapon dubbed a 'death ray on wheels'. Boeing's 10 kilowatt laser can down a drone using an array of hi-tech sensors. And makers Boeing have even proved it can battle the weather - by tracking and firing through fog, wind and rain in its latest test. +7 Software was able to track and destroy the craft The truck-mounted weapon, known as the High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD), gives a hint at what a weapon of the future could look like. Using an invisible laser beam to exact targets, the rounds are capable of taking down drones from the sky and even missiles. The device was equipped with a 10-kilowatt solid state laser and a radar system mounted atop a heavy truck at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. +7 The Compact Laser Weapon System can be assembled in 15 minutes, and then destroy targets from up to 22 miles away with an an energy beam of up to 10 kilowatts. 'Under windy, rainy and foggy weather conditions in Florida, these engagements were the most challenging to date with a 10-kilowatt laser on HEL MD,' said Dave DeYoung, Boeing Directed Energy Systems director. 'As proven at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in 2013 and at Eglin Air Force Base this spring, HEL MD is reliable and capable of consistently acquiring, tracking and engaging a variety of targets in different environments, demonstrating the potential military utility of directed energy systems.' +7 Boeing's 10 kilowatt laser can down a drone using an array of hi-tech sensors - and is about to get a massive power boost HOW IT WORKS The laser makes an incredibly powerful, highly focused beam of light and aims it at a moving target. The lithium ion batteries that power the HEL MD's laser are charged by a 60 kW diesel generator, so if the Army can keep the fuel tank full, they can shoot down incoming threats indefinitely. The system uses a telescope and infrared-based, wide field of view camera to locate and designate targets. Boeing has designed the system to be operated by a driver and an operator with a laptop and an Xbox controller. Light speed: This artist's impression shows how the team behind the new weapon imagine it will work in practice In these recent demonstrations, HEL MD used a 10-kilowatt, high energy laser installed on an Oshkosh tactical military vehicle. The demonstrator is the first mobile, high-energy laser, counter rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) platform to be built and demonstrated by the U.S. Army. 'With capabilities like HEL MD, Boeing is demonstrating that directed energy technologies can augment existing kinetic strike weapons and offer a significant reduction in cost per engagement,' said DeYoung. 'With only the cost of diesel fuel, the laser system can fire repeatedly without expending valuable munitions or additional manpower.' Throughout the two series of demonstrations, Boeing achieved all performance objectives on schedule, successfully engaging more than 150 aerial targets including 60 mm mortars and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The next step will be to install a 50 or 60-kilowatt laser on HEL MD to demonstrate counter RAM and UAV capability at this tactically significant power level. During previous tests a 'quarter-sized' invisible laser beam successfully targeted and destroyed more than 90 incoming mortar rounds and six to seven unmanned drones. Mortars are  common battlefield weapons that are hard to protect against because they can be fired from short distances. The mortars used in the test were standard 60 millimeter rounds – the length of a football — fired from a distance of less than two kilometers in salvos of two to three mortar rounds each.  The laser's success rate against incoming mortar shells indicates that battlefield protection from the small explosive rounds could be possible in a few years. Boeing's new laser brings down drones despite small size Army video of the laser tests shows the laser targeting the mortar so that it burns up in mid-air and does not explode when it completes its trajectory.  'We turn it into a rock, basically,' said Bauer. Large test drones flying five kilometers from the laser system came to crash into the New Mexico desert by aiming the laser at the tail of the unmanned aircraft.  +7 The latest test, carried out in Florida, saw the weapon used in fog, rain and wind - and it performed perfectly. An infrared camera on the video captured how a small dot of light on the tail slowly grew in intensity, forcing the craft to lose navigational control. The laser can also be used for less offensive purposes by dialing back its intensity to blind sensors aboard the drones. Plans call for shrinking the size of the laser system while also boosting its strength to 50 kilowatts, and ultimately 100 kilowatts.  Shrinking its size will make it easier to mount on more mobile vehicles that can be used on the battlefield. The shape-shifting mini tank with a built in machine gun to hit targets over a mile away that doubles as a troop carrier: Watch the THeMIS ADDER in action An Estonia-base defense firm has designed a mini tank that's 8ft wide, 3 ft tall and remotely controlled The vehicle is fitted with a CIS 50MG that hits targets up to 1.1 miles away, but soldiers can swap weapons THeMIS can carry between 1,653 to 2,205 pounds and hits speeds between 15 and 21.7 miles per hour It can be used as a remote reconnaissance platform, C-IED platform and  medevac vehicleView comments It could be the smallest, but deadliest new addition to the battlefield in decades.An Estonian firm has shown off the latest version of its shape shifting tiny remote control tank.Called THeMIS ADDER,  the 3-foot tall mini tank has a heavy machine gun that can accurately hit targets 1.1 miles away, and can change its shape depending on the mission requirements. +6 THeMis ADDER is designed with a Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) that is controlled remotely and in the future, could operate autonomously. This 3-foot tall mini tank is armed with a heavy machine gun that accurately hits targets 1.1 miles away and possess shape shifting capabilities to carry out complex missions MEET THeMIS ADDER THeMIS carries 1,653 to 2,205 pounds and hits speeds between 15 and 21.7 miles per hour. Its turret rotates a full 360 degrees in seconds and its CIS 50MG machine gun snags targets up to 1.1 miles away. Soldiers can change between different superstructures on platform and in the middle of the variant -allowing for different missions. It is remotely controlled, but will soon run autonomously.  This unmanned vehicle was conceived by Milrem, a defense and security provider based in Estonia, who says ADDER will soon work alongside soldiers in the field.  'Unmanned systems will play a significant role in the development of military capabilities in future,' said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem. 'Within the next 10 years, we will see smart ground systems complimenting the human troops during joint missions.' Milrem teamed up with Singapore Technologies Kinetics (ST Kinetics) to design this war machine, which is equipped with ST Kinetics' remote weapon station, the RWS ADDER. 'We are excited to be in cooperation with ST Kinetics for THeMIS ADDER, and we're sure that this universal UGV concept will effectively supplement defense capabilities on a battalion level,' Väärsi said. Milrem first unveiled the tiny beast in February, but has since completed the first live fire tests that brings it one step closer to the battlefield,according to New Atlas. 'The tests were intended to test the stability of our platform and see how the remote weapon station and vehicle communicate and work with each other,' said Väärsi.hare Watch mini-tank THeMIS ADDER ace fire live firing tests Loaded: 0%Progress: 0%0:00PreviousPlaySkipMute Current Time0:00 /Duration Time1:55FullscreenNeed Text , you can see as much from the video.' Compared to other unmanned vehicles, this modular hybrid gives soldiers the ability to change between different superstructures on platform and in the middle of the variant – depending on the mission. +6 This unmanned vehicle was conceived by Milrem – a defense and security provider based in Estonia. Compared to other unmanned vehicles, this modular hybrid gives soldiers the ability to change between different superstructures on platform and in the middle of the variant The flexibility and versatility of the system not only increases efficiency, it also significantly reduces the life cycle costs of these complex unmanned systems with simplified maintenance and spare supplies, the firm says. THeMIS, which is 8 feet long, is strong enough to carry from 1,653 to 2,205 pounds and hits speeds between 15 and 21.7 miles per hour. In addition to being a machine gun on tracks, the vehicle can be used for a wide variety of applications, including remote reconnaissance platform, C-IED (Counter Improvised Explosive Device) platform, medevac vehicle and supply delivery device.  +6 +6 In addition to being a machine gun on tracks, the vehicle can be used for a wide variety of applications, including remote reconnaissance platform, C-IED (Counter Improvised Explosive Device) platform, medevac vehicle and supply delivery device +6 The top of the tank is fitted with a turret that can rotate a full 360 degrees in just seconds and its CIS 50MG machine gun can snag targets up to 1.1 miles away – it is designed to be outfitted with smaller and larger caliber weapons as well The top of the tank is fitted with a turret that rotates a full 360 degrees in just seconds and its CIS 50MG machine gun snags targets up to 1.1 miles away – it is designed to be outfitted with smaller and larger caliber weapons as well. 'Estonians have proved many times before that we can successfully be on the forefront of innovation and the Milrem unmanned ground vehicle is a great example of that innovation when it comes to new technologies in the military field,' said Lieutenant General Riho Terras, Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. 'THeMIS ADDER has great potential to put Estonia on the map of countries that provide new technologies and solutions to the modern battlefield,' Terras added.  +6 ADDER, which is 8 feet long, is strong enough to carry from 1,653 to 2,205 pounds and hits speeds between 15 and 21.7 miles per hour. Milrem first unveiled the tiny beast in February, but has since completed the first live fire tests that brings it one step closer to the battlefield

The Death Star weapon is here! Japan fires world's most powerful laser to produce energy equal to 1,000 times the planet's power consumptionLFEX device produced 2-petawatts (2 quadrillion-watts) of energy The energy used for the laser beam itself would only be powerful enough to run a microwave for around two seconds, the Osaka researchers claim The high output was produced by firing the beam for just 1 pico-secondJapan claims to have fired the most powerful laser ever created. Researchers in Osaka were able to produce a 2-petawatt laser beam using a device known as the Laser for Fast Ignition Experiment (LFEX). The power of the 'Death Star'-like beam is equivalent to 1,000 times the world's total electricity consumption, the scientists claim. +3 The 328ft (100 metre)-long LFEX device has strategically-placed glass panels that are used to amplify the laser beam. The team were able to produce such a high output by concentrating the power to 1 pico-second, or around a trillionth of a second While it produced a huge amount of power, the energy required for the beam itself is equivalent to that needed to power a microwave for two seconds. The team were able to produce such a high output from low energy by only firing the laser beam for 1 pico-second, or a trillionth of a second. To amplify the beam's power, energy was applied to strategically-placed glass panels along the 328ft (100 metre)-long LFEX device. These glass lamps were able focus the beam to boost its energy as it passed through. +3 In the experiment, energy was applied to glass sections using devices similar to fluorescent lamps. These glass lamps were used to boost the energy of the beam as it passed through HOW POWERFUL IS IT? The device produced a 2-petawatt - or 2 quadrillion-watt - laser beam. This is equivalent to 1,000 times the world's electricity consumption. To put that in context, Rheinmetall Defense was recently able to shoot a drone down a mile away using a 50kW laser. The 50kW laser was 10 billion times less powerful that the one used in Japan. Up until today's announcement, the world has only ever within a 1-pettawatt laser created by the University of Texas, Austin. 'With heated competition in the world to improve the performance of lasers, our goal now is to increase our output to 10 petawatts,' said the institute's Junji Kawanaka, an associate professor of electrical engineering at the university To put that into context, according to Popular Science, a 50,000 watt laser successfully took down a drone just a mile away. That 50kW laser was 10 billion times less powerful that the one used in Japan. Up until today's announcement, the world has only ever witnessed a 1-pettawatt laser created by the University of Texas, Austin. Not only did the Japanese laser generate twice as much power, but the team says it also has 100 times as much energy as its Texas rival. The laser, liked to the Death Star laser in Star Wars, is currently mainly of scientific interest rather than having any real-world purpose. Details of the experiment have been published in the journal Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. +3 Researchers in Osaka were able to produce a 2-petawatt - or 2 quadrillion-watt - laser beam using the Laser for Fast Ignition Experiments (LFEX). This is equivalent to 1,000 times the world's electricity consumption, causing the laser to be compared to that on the Death Star in Star Wars (pictured)