The US Air Force just edged closer to its goal of outfitting aircraft with laser weapons. Testers at the White Sands Missile Range have successfully shot down multiple air-launched missiles using the Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD), proving that it can hold up under intense situations. While SHiELD is currently a ground-based behemoth (see below), the finished technology should be portable and rugged enough to be used aboard aircraft.
You won't see the technology used in-air for a while. The USAF only gave Lockheed Martin a contract in 2017, and the first airborne tests aren't expected until sometime in 2021. It would likely take a while after that before the system could find its way into service.
Provided the technology works as promised, though, it could have a dramatic effect on combat aircraft. The laser wouldn't be an offensive weapon, at least not at first. Rather, it would be used to shoot down missiles (both air-to-air and surface-to-air). As long as nothing interfered with the laser, an aircraft could be virtually impervious to missile attacks and effectively control the skies.
http://www.engadget.com/2019/05/05/us-air-force-laser-shoots-down-multiple-missiles/?yptr=yahoo&;ref=yfp&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9teS55YWhvby5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFMIYbSe_9_67tLqmKLEsqjEViXEndqPzddsBeAGo2iI1nrw20GqLN7QyvFfhlYVbxPGdNDJ8z9SODZR60pF3O8b3u6wT2DWAYR-hga-qhcCjF19NoAAlCxYvp3kkntl2S6fPdgxWddi-132u4O2gwZz2o10TptNdgz66vd8kkpU
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