The first aircraft equipped with a system to launch lasers was a modified Boeing 747, but was not very successful to say and the project was shelved. Still, the idea still stands and the DARPA people still looking for a way to make this work. He is currently working on two projects: the High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS) and Aero-Adaptive/Aero-Optic Beam Control (ABC).
HELLADS, you can see up here is a 150kW system that can be used to attack both from the air and from the ground. The idea is that the laser gun that projects can fit in a 1 cubic meter, which means that even cars could have one.
The other system, the ABC, is used as a defensive weapon. This is a turret designed to shoot any missiles that are directed towards the plane, but it becomes a little difficult since in most combat missiles come from behind, but obviously you can also shoot in that direction.
Both projects are currently well advanced and HELLADS begin testing next year.
What do you think about using technology for war?
