What is not being discussed too much outside of the research and development areas are the directed energy weapons, ie a p[article beam, which are being developed. They require massive amounts of electricity, but the new carriers will have massive amounts available to them for potential close in systems of that type.
Particle beams are not impacted by cloud cover, and other atmospheric conditions to the extent lasers are...but they still "bloom" over range.
The developers almost have to be getting close to at least a prototype. I wasn't aware research had been going on for so long; AN ARTICLE FROM 1984(oddly enough).