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.

But note that chemical lasers appears to have been a deadend.