A high powered laser would do well at engaging anti aircraft missles. Just thinking that it needs some defensive measures.
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that is not its mission!!!
If you think that the powers-that-be will NOT put or not think of putting, a weapon onboard, you are low on oxygen. Mission or not!
Well, I am thinking that the US does not want to be buying these a lot. I also believe that absent the SR-71 type speed, there will be a point in time where it will be detectable and then will be vulnerable. Without that speed, the shoot down potiential is much higher as it would only be able to rely on it’s stealth capability to keep from being detected. That strategy sounds very much like the U@ spy plane and we know how that ended.
Being able to shoot down incoming anti aircraft missles will allow for it to have a much longer usability envelope.