[SJSAMPLE]

The reason the airborne MIRACL laser works so well is that the beam is constantly moving through new, cooler air. The act of firing the laser disturbs (heats) the atmosphere it travels through.

The General also doesn't state the intended usage?
Anti-personel?
Anti-material?
Anti-Armor (no frigging way)?
or anti-sensor?

Different lasers for different usages. Having a starting point would be nice.

[Laserman]

Actually the airborne system is a COIL laser not a MIRACL design. And yes thermal blooming is a problem under certain engagement geometries (more for ground based than for airborne), but most battlefield engagements are not "nose on" and thus have slew to mitigate the problem. Also, some laser wavelengths experience this problem to a much lesser degree than others. And with two or more systems, crossing fire can be employed.

[.cnI redruM]

Anti-Personel would violate the Geneva COnvention. THat will be a moot point once several countries have tried and true Starship Troopers rifles, but is salient at present.

Anti-material is good if the stuff is flammable. Willie Pete is even better if the stuff is flamable.

Anti-Armor is possible. Not necessarily in the Star Wars sense, but more in the sense that it could overload sensitive portions of the vehicle with heat and cook off ammo or cause the engine or battery to fry and thereby generate a mob kill.

[PuNcH]

I bet it would be good for anti aircraft and anti missile.

[inPhase]

MIRACL is DF and not airborne, but on the ground

airborne laser would use much longer wavel, COIL

techies,
why can't they get COIL to higher powers, just a fact and the why of a need to phase together

[Constantine XIII]

Anti-Armor--well, it shot through an inch of steel in 2 seconds and the battle field model will be three times as powerful, so maybe...