[Darksheare]

But the THEL mounted on a 747 achieves enough throuput thta even a few second or less skin paint with the laser will make the target react rather badly. (undertsatement..)

Unless this Theater High Energy Laser isn't the same as the one developed at Helstf out west.

[Poohbah]

It's the same laser under very different conditions. It's flying well above the troposphere, engaging targets well above the troposphere, so there's a lot less crud and atmosphere to punch through. It's also engaging non-evasive targets.