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A prototype Airborne Laser aircraft sits on the runway at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., after making its first non-stop cross-country flight June 20, 2007. Air Force photo by Bobby Jones

The United States Air Force today unveiled its futuristic airborne laser weapon, based on a modified 747 design.

“What makes this revolutionary is that you can engage targets at the speed of light – 186,000 miles per second,” Air Force Col. John Daniels said. “So we can go from New York to Los Angeles before you can blink your eye. Think about that. You can’t blink your eye faster than this weapon system or a beam of light goes across the country.”

A modified 747 aircraft serves as the prototype Airborne Laser, slated to become an integral part of the U.S. missile defense system. Air Force photo by Bobby Jones

The Airborne Laser is being developed as part of the defense shield, A detection-and-tracking system, optics and a high-energy laser would detect a missile launch and track it during the boost phase.

Click photo for screen-resolution image Capt. Tim O'Grady, chief of Air Combat Command’s Directed Energies Analysis Branch at Langley Air Force Base, Va., holds a partial missile casing that was shot down by Airborne Laser. O’Grady discussed the aircraft’s capabilities at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on June 21, 2007. Air Force photo by Bobby Jones

Now once they learn to aim their target dummies properly Bush can go and declare WW III on rest of the world.