http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/11/tech/innovation/navy-laser-weapon/index.html
 
The Navy’s Laser Weapon System (LaWS) consists of a 30-kilowatt solid-state infrared laser, a Phalanx CIWS (close-in weapon system) radar detection and tracking system, and a special computer terminal that controls the LaWS. It integrates six commercial 5.4 kW fibre lasers with a beam combiner originated by the Naval Research Laboratory. Using a controller similar to an Xbox controller the sailor will be able to manage the laser's power to accomplish a range of effects against a threat, from disabling to complete destruction. When it comes to laser weapons (or beam weapons in general), there are two key factors that determine its efficacy: Power output and targeting. The joyous thing about conventional bombs or nuclear weapons is that you can cram a lot of energy into a very small space and because the blast radius is massive, targeting doesn’t have to be perfect. Lasers, on the other hand by definition have to be extremely focused, and thus very accurately targeted. You can’t blow up a house with a laser but you could snipe a soldier in the head from miles away, without touching anything else at all. 
 
As far as the US Navy is concerned, they see laser weaponry as a good way of taking out small boats and planes that get uncomfortably close to its ships. Laser weapons can be fired very quickly, and the cost per shot is very low (something like $1, as opposed to thousands of dollars for a small missile). At 30 kilowatts (which is pretty weak for a laser), we’re not looking at a weapon that will change the rules of engagement but worry not, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is already looking at developing a 150-kilowatt laser system, for testing in 2016 or 2017. At that kind of power output, you are then talking about a laser that can punch holes in the hulls of other large ships, or explode someone’s head from a few miles away.
 
 
 
 
 

 



 

 
 
 
 

Hopefully this is better than the Zeus laser they gave us for use against explosives.. that was a turd system and a half.

I like how their targets just happen to have explosives on-board in plain sight.  Clearly the laser's strength will need to be increased (as stated) to be useful in the real-world where explosives aren't conveniently placed.

We have Dr. Alan Parson to thank for this!

Not to mention the fuel utilized to power the system. The phalanx should be actively monitoring for targets, so therefore, it is constantly requiring energy and fuel.