Laser weapons to see advanced testing

Daily Mail:

HELLADS LASER ACHIEVES ACCEPTANCE FOR FIELD TESTING May 21, 2015 High-power laser marks a significant technological advance DARPA?s High-Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS) has demonstrated sufficient laser power and beam quality to advance to a series of field tests. The achievement of government acceptance for field trials marks the end of the program?s laboratory development phase and the beginning of a new and challenging set of tests against rockets, mortars, vehicles and surrogate surface-to-air missiles at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. ?The technical hurdles were daunting, but it is extremely gratifying to have produced a new type of solid-state laser with unprecedented power and beam quality for its size,? said Rich Bagnell, DARPA program manager. ?The HELLADS laser is now ready to be put to the test on the range against some of the toughest tactical threats our warfighters face.? Ground-based field testing of the HELLADS laser is expected to begiStar Wars comes a step closer: US military bosses reveal success tests of airborne 'death rays'


Initial trials of laser weapon revealed 'unprecedented power' of system, and it will now be tested against live targets at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The weapon would be used on both drones and fighter aircraft as well as special ops C-130's.  If successful they could also be a real money savers as well as a potent weapon.

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