this tech could also easily work as defense against AA missiles, something that grows more important as enemies are researching new ways to detect stealthy aircraft.
You’d send in a squadron defense aircraft armed like this, and it would shoot down the missiles aimed by defenders against the attacking element of aircraft. Attackers could simply stay on target.
Or you’d have an unihabited smaller version escort a flight of anti-ship missiles. This l’il guy would shoot down the defending missiles, leaving all friendly missiles intact until the closing phase, where they would only be attrited by CWIS.
There are a number of effective targets in warfare for this weapon. A shot at the cockpit of any airborn craft might be effective, the warhead of a head seeking missile, or the heads of infantry as they advance. If it can hit the hood of a car from the air, its accuracy is possibly effective enough to deal a lot of damage to an enemy.
Raytheon has already demonstrated the effectiveness of a commercial grade welding laser (20KW?) mated to the CIWS radar and aiming mount. Basically remove the gun, drop in an off-the-shelf laser, and zap. Demonstrated to knock down mortar rounds. Could probably be souped up (faster radar/computer/mount) to take out RPGs and short range rockets. The gotcha is 20KW isn't exactly an exciting power level. It really relies on the explosive in the incoming round to do the destruction, the laser just cooks it off...