I just saw a video yesterday from the WSJ about a new laser system in Israel ("The Iron Beam"). It's a 100 megawatt beam, and apparently the US military has a 300MW prototype working. How crazy is it that lasers are actual weapons now? I hate to ponder this, but I wonder when we'll see it used in ground based combat? Can you imagine a 300mw laser strafing across the front lines from 20 miles away? It's surreal to think about.
1. https://youtu.be/1frHtUEqd4E