In my book, George W. Bush Robin Hood For The Rich I talk about the need to shift to laser type weapons rather then the point to point star wars systems Bush has been pushing. In June 2007, Scientific American had an article about the development of the Beam type weapons that use solid-state lasers that can produce a beam of 100 kilowatts.
The systems would have an “infinite magazine” of low cost shots that could be used to destroy incoming artillery and mortars shells, missiles, detonate mines and blind electro-optical and infrared sensors. The new lasers run on electricity and can be used as both offensive and defensive weapons. This weapon could revolutionize the battle field of the future according to this article. These weapons could be used from the ground, ships or from the air. They would be capable of attacking targets many kilometers away at the speed of light and can even operate through fog and dust.
The recent successes indicate that these weapons systems may not be far from fielding and their potential is significant. Below is the excerpt from my book on this subject.
Page 68 of my book:
“We need to discontinue development of the point-to-point anti-missile system. This system has an estimated cost of approximately $100 billion which does not count the large ongoing expense of maintaining and operating the system. The system has proven unreliable in almost half of the tests to date and provides very limited benefits in terms of a defensive system. (Recent tests have been more encouraging but the one shot limited application is a continuing short coming). First, the system can only be used against incoming missiles as a one time application. If the missile we launch does not disable or destroy the enemy incoming missile, there is no second chance option. In addition, the system cannot be used against other types of targets like water or ground targets.
The money from discontinuing this point to point missile defense system should be used to help develop the airborne laser system. This application utilizes a 747 as a generator and powerful laser weapon that can be used against incoming missiles on a repeated basis as well as on air, land or sea targets. It has far greater flexibility and application than the point-to-point Star Wars system and should be the primary anti missile weapons system.”