Lasers coming to a warship near you

King Louie writes: The UK Telegraph is reporting that Raytheon and the US Navy have successfully tested a shipborne laser capable of shooting down aircraft. Video at the link shows the 32 megawatt solid-state laser shooting down an unmanned aerial vehicle. The article further states that the technology is mature enough to be deployed as part of ships' short-range missile defenses, a role currently filled by the Basic Point Defense Missile System (based on the Sea Sparrow missile) and the Close-In Weapons System (based on a 20mm Gatling gun).