Stars and Stripes
The Air Force Research Laboratory is forging ahead with a tall-energy laser designed to shoot down drones,incoming rockets and mortar rounds and hopes to contain a demonstration model ready by 2021, officials say.
The Self-protect tall Energy Laser Demonstrator program, or SHiELD,which launched this year, seeks to equip supersonic warplanes, and such as the B-1 Lancer,F-35 Lightning and F-22 Raptor, with defensive lasers mounted in external pods.
The Air Force wants a tall-energy laser system compact enough to complement the internal cannon and missiles equipped on its fighter jets.
Source: realcleardefense.com