tech
February 28, 2026
Wait—Laser Guns Are Real Now?
A staple of sci-fi and children’s entertainment is now being deployed by actual militaries in actual combat.
TL;DR
- Laser weapons are now a reality, with recent deployments by Ukrainian and U.S. military forces.
- The technology has been under development for decades, with significant progress made in the 2000s allowing for smaller, more practical weapon systems.
- Laser guns offer advantages such as speed of light targeting and low cost per shot compared to conventional weapons.
- Challenges remain, including the need for substantial power sources and cooling systems, making handheld laser guns impractical.
- The deployment of laser weapons raises new concerns about collateral damage and the potential for unintended harm to civilian aircraft or bystanders.
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