Defeating the vehicles

In September 2009, the Advanced Tactical Laser hit a moving vehicle on the ground, burning a hole in the fender. Boeing didn't offer specifics on the type of vehicle, other than to say it was remote-controlled, or how fast it was moving, nor did it give the airspeed or altitude for the aircraft.

A few weeks earlier, the ATL had made a laser strike on a stationary ground target. As Boeing described the results, "the laser beam's energy defeated the vehicle." By "defeated," Boeing meant that the target was made temporarily or permanently unavailable for its intended use.