'Cleared for combat': Watch the U.S. Navy's 'absolutely terrifying' laser weapon blow up a boat [photos, video]

Science fiction is now science fact. The U.S. Navy’s long anticipated “laser weapon system,” called LaWS, has been successfully tested aboard the Navy’s USS Ponce and is ready for combat:

U.S. Navy says its new laser weapon works and is ready for action.http://t.co/Ig3NMeyeB9 pic.twitter.com/1XKe6Sd6PL

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) December 11, 2014

U.S. Navy’s first laser weapon cleared for combat, blows up a boat, a small plane: http://t.co/7AAMD59stN

— Digg (@digg) December 11, 2014

#Navy Declares Laser Weapons Ready to Protect Ships in Persian Gulf | http://t.co/GoOU2HoAeR http://t.co/dZmK0CZQah

— Operationnels (@Operationnels) December 11, 2014

And get this … it only costs $0.59 per blast. It’s awesome, and affordable:

$400,000 per surface-to-air missile vs. 59 cents per laser shot. Heh. http://t.co/3Hko3vrNOu pic.twitter.com/DGKDf09vSN

— Richard Lai (@richardlai) December 11, 2014

Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL laser weapon!

US Navy unveils new laser gun and it's absolutely terrifying http://t.co/ifbONyutXT pic.twitter.com/0j7qVHDjXk

— The Independent (@Independent) December 11, 2014

Watch the US Navy blow up a grenade launcher and a drone with its new laser blaster. http://t.co/VEmkPZeowK pic.twitter.com/FqpHfnsKIc

— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 11, 2014

Watch the U.S. Navy field-test its fully operational laser cannon, take out a drone:http://t.co/WoqYp4GJHF pic.twitter.com/tnVmu19KIM

— SpeedReads (@SpeedReads) December 11, 2014

With video:

Watch the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) demonstration aboard USS Ponce @USNavy @DeptofDefense https://t.co/9l9YP4jNzA

— US Mission to NATO (@USNATO) December 11, 2014

Boom goes target.

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