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A comment on U.S. Air Force has shot down multiple air-launched missiles in a test.

Re:U.S. Air Force has shot down multiple air-launched missil... by dba7dba on Tuesday May 07, 2019 @03:29AM (#19847298)
Everyone thought a huge laser taking up a dedicated 747 (Boeing YAL-1) was a stupid idea but looks like it was a good starting point.
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Re:U.S. Air Force has shot down multiple air-launched missil... by dingaling on Tuesday May 07, 2019 @04:45AM (#19847587)
The YAL-1 ( horribly nonstandard designation ) was addressing a different and much harder problem; destroying ballistic missiles in the ascent phase at considerable range.

However destroying magnitude-smaller, nearby air-to-air missiles is much more achievable and was demonstrated by the NKC-135 / Airborne Laser Lab project back in 1979-85. Yes, 40 years ago.

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Re:U.S. Air Force has shot down multiple air-launched missil... by pngai on Tuesday May 07, 2019 @04:39AM (#19847561)
But note that chemical lasers appears to have been a deadend.
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