welcome to ... 1985?
In 1985, the intrepid young (15-18 years old!) geeks at "Pacific Tech" built a megawatt chemical laser that "could vaporize a human target from space" in the cult classic Real Genius. If you've never seen the film, you're truly missing out. It was back when Val Kilmer could actually act.
Well, it seems that 22 years later, reality has finally caught up with fantasy. The US Air Force is currently testing the "Airborne Laser", a megawatt chemical laser mounted in a Boeing 747, the ostensible purpose of which is to intercept and destroy ICBMs. Even though the system isn't designed to eliminate military dictators and foreign oil barons as they take their morning coffee on the veranda (or so we're told), the similarities are striking.
Well, it seems that 22 years later, reality has finally caught up with fantasy. The US Air Force is currently testing the "Airborne Laser", a megawatt chemical laser mounted in a Boeing 747, the ostensible purpose of which is to intercept and destroy ICBMs. Even though the system isn't designed to eliminate military dictators and foreign oil barons as they take their morning coffee on the veranda (or so we're told), the similarities are striking.
