Laser weapons-myths and prospects

The experience of designing strategic laser systems in the previous years and a strong belief in the attainability of the goalthe development of high-power laser weaponshelp to significantly accelerate the pace of work in the field of new technologies. World press has recently published the articles where it was suggested that the anti-missile airborne laser project suffers cost overruns and delays or may fall victim to budget cuts. Just after that mass media immediately reported that the Pentagon refuses to develop combat lasers. As a result, there has appeared an epic set of myths about combat lasers. The task of this paper is to consider the most ridiculous statements and to reject them by sufficient analysis.