Infantry in the Middle Ages heavy toll on the English invaders of their lands. Adapted by the English, the longbow was nevertheless a difficult weapon to master, requiring long years of use and practice. Even bow construction was extended, sometimes taking as much as four years for seasoned staves to be prepared and shaped for final deployment. A skilled longbowman could shoot 12 arrows a minute, a rate of fire superior to competing weapons like the crossbow or early gunpowder weapons. The nearest competitor to the longbow was the much more expensive crossbow or Arbalest, used often by urban militias and mercenary forces. It required
Laser Weapon System to the deck. Because the installation will be only a trial, LaWS will not be integrated into the ship's warfare system. In January 2018, the Navy announced a $150 million contract with Lockheed Martin for the production of two more LaWS units to be delivered in 2020; one will be fitted to while the other will be used for land-based testing. Further contract options could bring its value to $942.8 million. Laser Weapon System The AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System or XN-1 LaWS is a directed-energy weapon developed by the United States Navy. The weapon was installed on for field testing