Now its Britain's turn...

It is wishful thinking.

There is a world of difference between having it as a technology demonstrator, and having it as a reliable and effective weapons system. Look at the Zumwalt destroyer - 25 years in development, and we only built 3 because it was stupidly expensive.

Not much point in having a laser ABM system that is only 10 to 20 percent effective.

Not to mention the military's large scale movement to off-the-shelf technology, because they can no longer afford the excessive R&D costs with only limited production.

Further, if such lasers are already in the military's possession, then why the continuing massive expenditures into missile-based defense systems?

 

Oh okay, I’ll bow to your superior knowledge...

 

You could also look at "Have Blue", the first US stealth aircraft, and how long that remained under development, before it had evolved enough to be combat ready.

Sure, the military has amazing technologies, but the vast majority are not, shall we say, "Ready for primetime."

 

But how do you know that? Secrets are called secrets for a reason...

 

Yes, but this is the 2020s, not the 1950s. Folks were more respectful of the governments wishes back then, and information was much harder to come by, much less disseminate. Now, cell phones with excellent cameras are everywhere, the internet allows for instantaneous dissemination of information to every one, hacking of computers is a near daily occurrence. Secrets don't stay "secret" for near as long as they used to.

 

You left out flash drives. Worked for Seth R.