Fighter jets equipped with anti-missile LASERS take another step toward reality after Air Force shoots down multiple targets in latest successful test

• The U.S. Air Force has taken a major step towards laser-based missile defense
• According to a statement, 'multiple' missiles have been shot down in a test
• Recent success marks a major step for the systems which has failed in the past 
• To attach the systems to planes the military will work on reducing its size 

With a successful test, the U.S. Air Force is closing in on being able to stop enemy missiles in mid-flight using a sophisticated laser machine. 

The laser defense system, called Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator, or SHiELD, successfully shot down multiple air-launched missiles according to a statement from the U.S. Air Force.

Behind the laser system is a technology that the military calls 'directed energy systems.' 

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SHiELD as the technolgoy is know hopes to one day be light enough to be attached to a war jet where it will be able to shoot down enemy missiles

This class of military device weaponizes frequencies like microwaves for both offensive and defensive purposes. Think, a mounted satellite that can fry hardware in trucks, cars and other vehicles. 

'This critical demonstration shows that our directed energy systems are on track to be a game changer for our warfighters,' said Dr. Kelly Hammett, director of AFRL’s Directed Energy Directorate. 

Similar technology mounted on ground vehicles has already been tested successfully, staving off various types and sizes of drones. 

The high-power microwave laser is being developed by Raytheon and can identify, track, and disable adversarial drones.

For directed energy technology focused on defending against missiles, however, progress has been less forthcoming.Unlike with drones, anti-missile tech, which the Air Force hopes will be able to guard against ground-to-air and air-to-air missiles, has the added responsibility of targeting and stopping an object that, in some cases, can travel up to or even faster than the speed of sound.

While the military hopes to be able to attach the technology to aircraft, giving fighter pilots a much needed tool to defend themselves against enemies, one major barrier has building the systems small enough to fit on planes.

An experimental chemical laser system being developed and explored by the U.S. Air Force was decommissioned in 2012. 

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Truck-mounted directed energy systems have enjoyed more success shooting down drones in a recent test by the company Raytheton, shown

Ground-based interceptor is test fired in 2015

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Though the laser, mounted on a Boeing 747, successfully shot down a missile for the first time ever, severe limitations in costs and ability eventually led to the project's demise.

According to a report from The Verge, the systems range was restrictive -- in order to shoot down a missile launched from Iran, the plane and laser would have to be within the country's borders.

From here, the Air Force says it will look to reduce the size and weight of its system with the hopes of attaching it to a plane -- so far, the technology has been better suited for giant war ships due to its size restrictions. 

'The final SHiELD system, however, will be much smaller and lighter, as well as ruggedized for an airborne environment,' said the Air Force in a statement. 

WHAT ARE HYPERSONIC MISSILES AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

Aircraft and missiles are said to be hypersonic once they exceed speeds of Mach 5 and above, or five times the speed of sound.

This occurs at 1,715 metres per second (3,836mph / 6,174kmh).

The latest class of hypersonic missiles would be smaller, guided and designed to carry conventional explosives for time-sensitive, rapid response in theatre operations. 

There are two kinds of approaches to solving the hypersonic challenge in missiles: 'scramjet' and 'boost glide.' 

The air-breathing scramjet relies on high speed for its power.

As it accelerates, more air and fuel is pushed into the engine, allowing it to accelerate even more - to hypersonic speeds.

The boost glide model rides a reentry vehicle to extremely high altitudes, where it skips across the Earth's upper atmosphere.

Traditional ballistic missiles already travel at hypersonic speeds.

Built to carry nuclear and conventional warheads, these weapons are capable of reaching outer space in the course of their flights, but they can't manoeuvre.