Question by a non tech guy:
If you have on board lasers that are going to shoot down incoming missiles and aircraft faster than than the enemy can launch them then why worry about being stealthy?
It would appear that the weapons described in the article make stealth redundant.
If that is the case, why not just load the lasers on something like a C-130? Lots of room, load carrying capacity. Four engines to generate power for the laser(s), proven design... Fly in slow and non-stealthy, but so what. Make a statement, “I own this airspace and there’s nothing you can do about it, come up and try me and my friends.”
I think it is because of the limited range of compact “directed energy” weapons. You still need to get the laser weapon platform close to the enemy to destroy him.