Laser Canons

The Death Star is a machine that can destroy planets with a huge laser canon. And laser beams, rather than bullets, are the weapon of choice in the Star Wars movies. Thankfully, we're very far from seeing such a weapon in real life, though laser weapons are being developed.

The U.S. Army’s ATHENA system, for example, can be used to shoot down drones. In 2017, Lockheed Martin signed a contract with the U.S. Army to develop lasers for fighter jets that could take down missiles and, eventually, other jets. The system could be operational by 2021.