[Strac6]

BTW, at the “gee whiz” level, high powered lasers are about to rewrite the entire TacAir, Armor and Surface Warfare playbook, and the smart zoomies are trying to get pilots out of the TacAir a/c as soon as possible.

It is not a far reach to think of a low observablity nuc submarine, which already has plenty of electric generating power, popping a laser head out of the water and zapping a carrier.

How about a one ton truck with a laser in the back that rules the air, horizon to horizon or has the ability to destroy any tank at the speed of light?

[AndyJackson]

And, as you well know, there already people in town [D.C.] trying to get the rights to write the power points to sell all of this to the Pentagon - here it is - battle ready designs after a few billion to work out a couple of the kinks.

It is a long way from a concept to a system that is deployable, maintainable with associated trained operators and operating doctrine and tactics - much less a willing enemy to use it all on.

And lasers don't work well against sand in the desert. Nuclear weapons don't work well against stand in the desert.