An engineer adjusts a mirror in the "wall of fire," a zigzag-shaped optical path used by the Airborne Laser Test Bed's missile-killing high energy laser, during a test at the Lockheed Martin facility in Sunnyvale, Calif., in 2003. The "wall of fire" was part of the 6,100-pound beam transfer assembly, installed in the Airborne Laser Test Bed aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. By Russ Underwood, Lockheed Martin'Star Wars' Meets Reality? Military Testing Laser Weapons -- USA Today
Are we finally witnessing the dawn of the "death ray"?
Five decades after the creation of the laser, the ubiquitous technology of the modern era may be ready to serve up that Star Wars science-fiction staple: the laser blaster.
Advances in the technology have made it possible for military testers to shoot down incoming mortar rounds with land-based lasers, and military commanders are on the verge of being able to fire laser blasts from the air that could be aimed at tanks or mines.
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Retiring NORAD commander: No unfinished business -- AP
Zombie Laser Plane Returns to Haunt Washington -- The Danger Room
Iron Dome defense system gets new backer: Barack Obama -- Haaretz
South Korea Unveils Plan To Overhaul Its Security System -- RTT
Taiwan discusses new arms purchase list with US -- M&C
Boeing Source: We May Not Bid For KC-X -- Defense News
U.S. Air Force Officials Announce FY 2011 Force Structure Alignments -- Defense Talk
Retiring NORAD commander: No unfinished business -- AP
Army Determines Precision Indirect Fires Not All That Important in Current Wars -- Defense Tech
Northeast Asian States to Meet Over North Korea's Nuke Program -- Global Security Newswire
Does America Need More Battleships? -- New Wars
Iron Dome defense system gets new backer: Barack Obama -- Haaretz
South Korea Unveils Plan To Overhaul Its Security System -- RTT
Taiwan discusses new arms purchase list with US -- M&C
Boeing Source: We May Not Bid For KC-X -- Defense News
U.S. Air Force Officials Announce FY 2011 Force Structure Alignments -- Defense Talk
Retiring NORAD commander: No unfinished business -- AP
Army Determines Precision Indirect Fires Not All That Important in Current Wars -- Defense Tech
Northeast Asian States to Meet Over North Korea's Nuke Program -- Global Security Newswire
Does America Need More Battleships? -- New Wars