Directed-energy weapon (Earth-5875)

A directed-energy weapon (DEW) is a ranged weapon system that inflicts damage at a target by emission of highly focused energy, including laser, plasma and particle beams. Applications of the technology include anti-personnel weapon systems, missile defense system, and the disabling of lightly armored vehicles or mounted optical devices.

Laser
Lasers and are used both for repairments and weaponry. They are featured in the Covenant's pulse laser turrets, which are standard for all of the Covenant Armada's warships, and also within UNSC's prowlers. The M6 Spartan Laser is the only human infantry weapon to incorporate laser technology.

Plasma
Plasma makes up the backbone of most weapons used by the dissolved Covenant and its splinter factions. Warships have their own plasma torpedoes, which can remotely track targets with precision and easily outclass enemies in ship-to-ship combat, while the glassing method is used to bombard the surface of a planet. Common plasma infantry weapons of the Covenant include the Type-25 plasma rifle, the Type-25 plasma pistol, and the Type-1 plasma grenade. The M78 phased-plasma infantry gun is the only human weapon to incorporate plasma.

Particle beam
The Covenant also incorporates accelerated plasma in their weapons. such as the energy projectors mounted on their warships, as well as the Type-50 particle beam rifle, using charged neutral particles to shoot. They outwardly may appear as lasers to the untrained eye. Humans have the knowledge particle beam weapons, but they do not use it.

Trivia

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