The Air Force of the Future: Lasers on Fighter Jets, Planes That Think

Paving the way for wars of the future.

Let me know when they make this plane real though. I loved this thing in the Ace Combat games along with the FALKEN.

I don't think this is going to be the direction we go. I think smaller, cheaper swarms of autonomous drones is going to be cheaper and just as effective. Think about it: 1 piloted laser jet for 150 mil, or 100 autonomous drones for 30 mil? Swarms is the key concept. I think we'll see engagements of 100's, maybe even thousands of them. And I think this will be the case at sea and in the air.

Sounds awesome! But also expensive. Thinking about power requirements. Laser on the 747 is feasible because it's big enough to carry the generator/capacitor. But is there a power source that's small enough to slap on a fighter but still powerful enough and strong enough to power a laser that needs to melt through another plane?