Laser weapons have been in sci-fi and experiments, but in reality have been bulky and inefficient. Things have changed. General Atomics (which sounds sci-fi but is a real company) has developed a laser that comes in a box. Add a steerable telescope to the end, and direct up to 300 kW at a target. (For perspective, 10kW can take down a rocket at 1.5 kilometers.) If the battery is charged, it’s ready. Strap it to a vehicle and have a mobile laser with a few shots from the onboard battery. Plug it in, and the limit is the power limit of what’s at the other end of the plug. Considering the cost of smart munitions, the cost of going into battle just dropped.
“Tactical Laser Weapon Module Can Laserify Almost Anything” – @IEEE Spectrum
Pretending Not To Panic 