Two problems that have dogged laser weapon development for some time are weather conditions and the target itself.

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While some of these weapon and sensor systems like the Electromagnetic Railgun or the Free Electron Laser are at least a decade away, the Laser Weapon System and Air and Missile Defense Radar systems are almost ready for prime time deployment today.

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When Shepard gets up close to the Reaper, he pulls out a weapon and paints a targeting laser on it, and then the Normandy sweeps in and nails it with a massive weapon.

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The LCITS is another upgraded 70mm weapon, but instead of laser guidance it picks out its targets by their heat signature.

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Air Force F-15E fighter jets will launch the new weapon, which would find its target either by a laser or satellite guidance system.

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To ensure the weapon hits the target, the system can be guided by GPS, inertially, or by laser designation.

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