Iron Beam laser – current status and outlook

[sahgwa]

Reflective coatings don’t work nearly as well as they do in stories. It’s not going to stop the laser from being absorbed. It may delay the time it takes to kill the target, or force them to decrease the range before taking the shot, but the laser will still get through it.

Maybe a combination of double armour and double reflection. but thats a lot of weight

[Signal Witch]

What about a kind of reflective coating that stops the laser from being absorbed?

Just to agree with - and dive deeper into what Zaphod said:

A reflective coating can slow a laser but cannot make a missile immune. Even high-grade mirrors absorb some energy, and once a spot heats or pits, the damage grows quickly. Curved surfaces, seams, and sensor windows break the reflection, and dust or exhaust grime on the skin gives the beam a dark patch to bite. That is why “mirrored missiles” remain a laboratory concept rather than a fielded defense.

[Signal Witch]

Maybe a combination of double armour and double reflection. but thats a lot of weight

Stacking heavy reflective layers and extra armor could slow a laser a bit longer, but every layer adds mass and complexity. Missiles have tight limits on weight, balance, and acceleration, and most of that budget already goes to propulsion, guidance, and payload. Beyond a certain point, the extra protection cuts range and maneuverability so much that the missile stops being useful. That is why designers stick to modest coatings or shaping instead of thick armor and even then, a 100 kw class laser will still toast it like a marshmallow.