The US Air Force already has a laser to launch missiles in flight

The US Air Force has just announced that it is successfully using a laser system capable of firing missiles in full flight. This device, called SHiELD (Self-Protecting High Energy Laser Demonstrator), was tested in the White Sands missile field in New Mexico, with a ground-mounted crew that successfully deactivated various flying missiles

During the tests performed, ground equipment was used, but in the future, SHIeLD could be installed on an aircraft as a protection mechanism against air-to-air missile attacks. According to the US Air Force Research and Development Laboratory, SHIeLD will offer new benefits in airspace control through the effective use of lasers as that missile defense tool.

"This shows that our targeted energy systems are becoming a key and vital element on the battlefield," said Kelly Hammett, Area Director Responsible for the region.
development of laser weapons in the air force.

The next step
The US Air Force Research and Development Laboratory is mining the SHIeLD system so it can operate on an aircraft. The development of this prototype began in 2016 and a year later, Lockheed Martin received a $ 26.3 million contract to advance the development and implementation of the laser system by the US Air Force.

Presentation of the prototype laser weapons of the US Air Force

As a precedent, the US military has a variety of technological resources that seek to exploit the laser in military applications. In 2017, the US Navy
Introduced LaWS ("laser weapon system"), a laser gun emitting a huge amount of photons to topple a drone in full flight. In charge of three operators, the LaWS prototype requires the use of a small generator in order to be able to disable remote systems with precise laser shots.