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Posted on 09/24/2026 9:42:12 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
It's the headline I've waited since I was probably seven years old to read: "US military spending $500M on ‘war-ready’ laser weapons — and zapping drones in Iran, along US border."
That's 50 years, folks, and totally worth the wait.
According to the New York Post — your go-to newspaper for words like "zapping" in the headline — "Iranian citizens have witnessed some dazzling laser shows recently," because "US military has been deploying lasers in the Strait of Hormuz to knock out regime hardware."
The Department of War said this week that lasers disable "drones and incoming cruise missiles at a much lower cost than using more expensive kinetic weapons like missiles."
That's no joke, either.
The Pentagon is mum on the details, but my understanding is that most of the laser weapons currently in use merely "dazzle" incoming threats, sending them off course. So there aren't any cool vaporizations.
The Israelis led the way on some of this antimissile stuff, despite our head start with President Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (now the Missile Defense Agency and soon as Golden Dome) in the early '80s.
And Another Thing: No sharks were harmed in the production of this column. That we're at liberty to tell you about, anyway.
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system can hit incoming threats at over 40 miles away, but each launcher holds a max of 20 missiles — and each missile costs up to $60 grand. But then there's Iron Beam, which uses fricken lasers. While Iron Beam is good only against enemy missiles close in (4-7 miles, roughly), each shot costs just five bucks or so. And there's no limit on how many shots it can take,
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
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>> zapping drones in Iran, along US border.
Obviously FAKE NEWS. Iran isn’t along the US border! Look at a map! Better yet a globe!
What about intemperate sea bass?
I think they mean they’re zapping mexican cartel drones.
They use drones for drug deliveries across the border.
Probably zapped a drone carrying coke to Newscum..
Yeah, I’m sure you’re right.
I was calling out the dodgy grammar by channeling my inner juvenile smart aleck. ;-)
Put them on sharks heads and then I’ll be impressed.
LOL, Tick!
We all have an inner juvenile.
The military has been woprking on direct fire lazer weapons for many years. Based on declassified military history and broader defense research timelines, the U.S. military has been developing directed-energy and laser weapon technologies for over 50 to 60 years.
While Groom Lake is historically famous for testing experimental aircraft (like the U-2, SR-71, and F-117 Nighthawk), laser testing is widely understood to have been integrated into the base’s operations along the following timeline:
The 1960s & 1970s (The Early Labs): The Department of Defense began researching directed-energy weapons shortly after the invention of the laser in the 1960s. Early testing of airborne lasers and laser designators for stealth programs began involving the wider Nevada Test and Training Range.
The 1980s (Strategic Defense Initiative): During the Reagan administration’s “Star Wars” program, Area 51 and the neighboring Nevada Test Site were heavily utilized for exotic energy weapons testing. This included the development of chemical and space-based laser components.
The 1990s to Present (Integration and Stealth): As defense priorities shifted toward unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and counter-drone systems, Groom Lake became an ideal, completely restricted airspace for mounting laser systems onto aircraft or testing ground-based anti-drone laser turrets.
Today, military laser development has officially graduated from secret test labs into mass production—exemplified by recent Pentagon contracts for Enduring High Energy Lasers and anti-drone LOCUST X3 systems.
Not new stuff.
wy69
Excellent news, since shooting them down with missiles that cost $100k up to a couple million each shot for a $10k drone is unsustainable, even for the USA.
Five Bucks A Shot !
.
Let me Buy That Robot A Whiskey!
Is this a HELIOS system? I’ve been wondering when they were going to deploy it.
I. remember that on the tv show Man From UNCLE, that a small RC airplane with some kind of explosives was being directed to the top of the spy org:s building. Well, lo and behold, they haa defensive laser beam installed on the roof.
If these laser weapons are as effective as they purport to be, if they are as cost-effective as they purport to be, Trump now has the opportunity to honor America's commitment to Ukraine, and promote the end of bloodshed by the destruction of Russian missiles aimed at the people of Ukraine. Let Trump deploy these weapons in defense of Ukraine!
More likely, however, he will send Frick and Frank on another mission to Moscow and Kiev to exhort the Ukrainians to submit to Russia's illegal invasion and to make nice to a mass murderer in Moscow.
cant wait for the home versions... first thing I do is mount one my work truck that shoots to the side horizontal about 2” above the road. Those morons who wait till the last second to merge... you know, the little friggin kids taking cuts... they will lose all 4 of their tires. ...and anyone else who happens to shatter my inner peace during my commute...!!
You will never beat us or our weapons as long as we are GOD FEA RING
Maybe they can adapt it to zapping mosquitoes.
thanks once again President Reagan.
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