Last week the US air force successfully conducted laser weapons tests against surface-to-air missiles and air-to-air missiles. And what this means, defacto, is complete disruption of modern air war and warfare in general as we know it!

The is in addition to a report rolls Royce successfully built and tested an integrated system for Lockheed Martins laser weapon, which will be competing for the US next generation laser weapons of the future.

And additionally, a few months ago it was reported that Israel is about a year away from making missile defense laser weapons of its own. The laser defense system, called Iron beam, will compensate and even replace in some cases the Iron Dome.

The testing was done by the US Air Force research laboratory on April 23rd in white sands New mexico. It is part of the “Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator Advanced Technology Demonstration Program”- aka SHIELD program. In the tests it shot down numerous air-to-air missiles although from a ground based laser system, not on a plane.

“The successful test is a big step ahead for directed energy systems and protection against adversarial threats. The ability to shoot down missiles with speed-of-light technology will enable air operation in denied environments.” said Maj. Gen. William Cooley – Air Force Research Laboratory commander.

The laser can burn the warhead, damage the sensors or other vital components in the missile.

However, the system is not ready yet as it needs a large and clumsy. IN fact the system which did the test is so big it was done from the back of a truck – hence it cannot fit onto an aircraft. The USAF laboratory set a goal to minimize it to the size of a POD til 2021 so it  can fit an F-15 eagle. Shortly thereafter, they plan to make defensive laser weapons defense for all the other kinds of planes also.

If such a laser system on jets ever becomes operational, it will disrupt modern air combat, and even warfare, as we know it! Today combat jets protect themselves with a slew of passive defensive methods like flares, electronic warfare and chaff to confuse missile guidance systems. Although There was never actually any real attempt to make an “aerial Iron Dome” or “trophy APS” for jets because it was seen as too complicated scientifically.

Another way jets protect is, when conducting long range bombing, they launch the missiles outside of Anti-Aircraft coverage range.(and using missiles like the Spice). one of the tactics the Israeli air force uses over Syria and in India’s raid in Pakistan. And off course, there is stealth, which solves the problem if the jet is non line of sight but if it is within visual, than a visual tracker on the missile can take it down (although that is rare).

But this Laser will make all these defensive measures a thing of the past. It will mean the jets can fly closer, faster and be much more lethal.

Laser weapons Shield
The actual system in the actual size – needs to be minimized to the size of a truck

This system is so revolutionary it will be strategic cause it mean the Jets will be practically immune and anybody in their cross hairs vulnerable. Just like the Israeli Trophy Active Protection System – Israel protection for tanks against ATGM’s – was actually strategic for Israel. testimonies of IDF tank operators in the Gaza 2014 war said they had much more confidence under fire cause they know they were protected because of the system. The Trophy was in fact strategic cause the Hamas knew they had no way to defend themselves against tanks, hence it shortened the war. Hamas didn’t have tanks of their own, and the Trophy made their ATGM’s obsolete.

Same with this Shield system if it becomes operational – It is strategic. It destroys modern warfare as we know it and no country will challenge a country which has this system. It might even change the behavior of Russia or China. Israel will also probably get it because they are close to making their defensive laser weapons system – albeit for missiles. And from there, no doubt, they too will be able to make of defensive laser weapons (for jets, against cruise missiles, and etc.).

The revolution is actually much bigger – Why not make these defensive laser weapons for all smart and cruise missiles? It;s clear, this is only he beginning.

The only way to really oppose it, in the foreseeable future, is preventive warfare. If country X has this laser weapons technology and country Y does NOT, the only way it can defend itself is with preventive strike. It will ultimately will bring rise to much more sophisticated preventive strike weapons, like Hyper sonic weapons. In fact they already are rising, as the Russians already have them, and now the Chinese got wind of it. And they are strategic danger, as well tactical (for example against navy ships).

The modern battle will re-engineer itself by these changes. These defensive laser weapons will reconstruct the modern battle field because as we know it.