Laser weapons, once thought only to exist in science fiction, are now part of modern warfare scenarios.
The U.S. navy held a new-weapons test in December 2014, and footage of the cutting-edge weapons deployed on the USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf has been revealed to the public.
During the test, the laser weapon system (LaWs) hits a buoy, a moving target on top of a speeding small boat and a drone.
The navy is more excited about the cost of the weapons, since it can fortify ship defenses at a dollar per shot using existing battery packs.
U.S. navy experts expect the weapons to be deployed no later than the mid-2020s and change the face of warfare.
But there are many criticisms about the result of the project. Many experts involved claim that the power of the laser and its efficiency are too low considering the amount invested in the project.
“Although useful, they are not yet at the point where they would replace guns,” said Paul Scharre, director of the 20YY Warfare Initiative at the Center for a New American Security.