Lockheed Martin's New Killer Laser Puts Israel's Iron Dome To Shame [Video]

[DetlefK]

5. That's not what I meant.

First, you have to measure the incoming object and to recognize it beyond a reasonable doubt as a missile (or else ADAM will be shooting birds left and right). This has to happen within fractions of a second.

Second, you have point the laser at the missile within fractions of a second.
AND if the missile is 30cm across and the distance is 1km, you have to do so with an accuracy of arctan(0,3/1000)=0,017°. (That's maybe feasible for absolute high-tech, but only after laborous calibration that can take hours to weeks, not when the setup just got shaken during its transport to the middle of nowhere.) AND you have to reach this accuracy again within fractions of a second.

Third, for a maximum of efficiency you have to focus your laser on the missile. To do that, you need its distance and you need it really quick.