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"As technology progresses, sometimes science fiction becomes reality. Soon, lasers could leave the realm of imagination and a galaxy far, far away. Thanks to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the futuristic arm of the U.S. military, this year liquid-cooled, solid-state laser weapons will be installed on fighter planes. \nDARPA and General Atomics announced they finished working on the laser turrets in 2012, and will now start integrating them on bomber and combat planes, with a goal of starting to test the technology in 2014.\nThe program is called HELLADS (High Eenergy Liquid Laser Area Defense System) and DARPA has been working on it since 2008. The laser turrets will be light enough to be mounted on planes, and will be able to shoot down surface-to-air missiles or rockets with high-energy laser beams. \nSEE ALSO: DARPA Eyes Pop-Up Deep Sea Sensors\n\nDARPA is involved in other laser projects, including one with defense giant Lockheed Martin. So someday soon we will probably see technology that resembles science fiction like Star Wars or Star Trek.\nTo learn more about this Star Wars-like program, check out the video above.\n\nIllustration courtesy of DARPA\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2013/01/27/lasers-fighter-jets-2014/>