PRISM is a U.S. Air Force airborne laser defense aircraft

[william]

Built to stop missiles before they reach the ground. The U.S. tried an airborne laser once before with the YAL-1, a modified 747 that got canceled. PRISM is the version that comes next: smaller, faster, and built to stay in the air. Performance and operational capabilities: it cruises at 650 mph, faster than the B-2 Spirit, and operates at 60,000 feet, higher than both the B-2 and the F-35. Its 1-megawatt laser reaches targets 200 miles away and hits at the speed of light, so even a Mach 10 hypersonic missile has no time to react. The turret turns a full 360 degrees without the aircraft changing course. The gold-coated canopy hides the cockpit from radar and shields the crew from glare. No interceptor missiles to carry, no reload. Each aircraft costs about 1.5 billion dollars, while each laser shot costs around three.

The vid clip is AI generated

https://twitter.com/x/status/2109950142602268798

e they reach the ground. The U.S. tried an airborne laser once before with the YAL-1, a modified 747 that got

• The post by @827js shares an AI-generated concept video of a fictional U.S. Air Force "PRISM" airborne laser defense aircraft, depicted as a sleek flying-wing design with a top-mounted turret, gold-coated canopy, and claimed specs including 650 mph cruise speed, 60,000 ft altitude, and a 1-megawatt laser effective at 200 miles.
• It contrasts PRISM with the canceled YAL-1 (a modified 747 with megawatt-class laser for boost-phase missile defense) and emphasizes advantages like unlimited low-cost shots (~$3 each), no reloads needed, and full 360-degree targeting without maneuvering.
• The post asks viewers whether lasers should replace interceptor missiles, framing the concept as futuristic entertainment while real U.S. military efforts focus on integrating directed-energy weapons onto platforms like the AC-130J and fighters. Grok

PRISM is a U.S. Air Force airborne laser defense aircraft - Bing

Intelligent search from Bing makes it easier to quickly find what you’re looking for and rewards you.

www.bing.com

The Air Force Is Taking Another Run at Airborne Laser Weapons

The service is planning a new airborne laser weapon initiative for fiscal year 2027.

www.laserwars.net

Think they built it? I always thought it was suspicious when the 747-version got canceled.