Advances made on Northrop's electric laser

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Northrop Grumman Corp., the second-largest U.S. military contractor, has developed an electric laser with enough power to shoot down enemy missiles and drones.

Such power is unheard of and would change the way the military responds to various kinds of threats from land, sea and air.

"The laser has a mix of very unique traits of high-interest for the military," Dan Wildt, vice president of Northrop's directed energy systems program said. It can travel at the speed of light, offer ultrahigh precision to limit collateral damage and can engage a target instantly, he noted.