YAL-1

The YAL-1 Airborne Laser Test Bed was a specialized aircraft equipped with a powerful laser designed to disable ballistic missiles early in their flight. It was developed by the U.S. to demonstrate laser weapon technology capable of intercepting threats before they reached their targets. The system included a large laser mounted inside the plane, which could target and destroy missiles in midair by focusing intense laser beams. Although successful in tests, the program was eventually canceled in 2012 due to high costs and technical challenges, and it did not become a deployed missile defense system.