Hunh? did we read the same article?
"Though originally meant to be set up on permanent sites in Israel, the laser is now to be mobile, thanks to changing political realities...So, THEL researchers will be working to put the equipment on a vehicle that resembles a tractor-trailer. "
Doesn't sound like they *ever* meant to mount it on an aircraft...Also, I don't think a laser is like a flashlight, i.e. ya crank some 'lectricity in one end, and get a beam out the other- i think the actual mixture of gases lases itself.