Tech Toy Update - Here's a BIG one that slipped in quietly....want to know what we are really concerned about?

In October, the U.S. Homeland Security Department selected Skyguard as an option to protect civil aircraft and commercial airports from the threat of man-portable missiles. Northrop has also been developing a laser for the Airborne Laser program.

I have written about Skyguard and THEL and MTHEL, and THAAD ad nauseum

However somewhere in there we all missed the facts that:
It is deployable.
It is deployed.

Each Skyguard defends a diameter of 10 km (6.25 mi)

Perfect for airport defense.
From Gertz

Laser weapons are emerging as a cost-effective replacement for surface-to-air missiles for air and ground defense, industry sources said.

The sources said advancements in laser weapons could make them an alternative to kinetic interceptors as well as air defense systems. They said a range of militaries and governments have been examining new laser weapons manufactured by companies such as Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

"Laser weapons are becoming much less expensive compared with other solutions for force protection against indirect fire threats," Northrop Grumman vice president Mike McVey said. "We estimate that accomplishments in 2006 could easily translate into high-energy laser weapons costing one-fourth the total system cost of tactical missiles."

Executives said 2006 marked a significant success for Northrop Grumman in the development and testing of high-energy lasers. They said the company achieved the most intense laser beams, the highest power levels and the longest operating times in tests over the last year.

Northrop Grumman has offered Israel the Skyguard laser for missile and rocket defense.

In July 2006, Skyguard, a ground-based laser air defense system, was introduced to protect sites and communities against rockets, missiles and mortars.

In October, the U.S. Homeland Security Department selected Skyguard as an option to protect civil aircraft and commercial airports from the threat of man-portable missiles. Northrop has also been developing a laser for the Airborne Laser program.

Northrop has also introduced Vesta, described as a compact laser weapon designed to protect fixed ground assets. Vesta is also meant for precision strikes by manned and unmanned aircraft.

VESTA???????

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