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Tango Torres kept an eye out as his copilot, “Gutz” Gutierrez, set up on the first run.
The Block 30 upgrade to the Ghostrider had included some nice tactical and weapons control enhancements. It also included an advanced active denial system that could suppress all of a hostile’s communications for a range of over five kilometers—including both cell phone and radio.
But the centerpiece of Block 30 was the HEL-A.
The High-Energy Laser-Airborne could deliver a hundred-and-fifty-kilowatt beam against a tracked target. Ground testing had shown it effective against anti-aircraft missiles and other aircraft. It was also powerful enough to destroy cars and disable boats and other ground targets.
Tango wanted to see it burn.
The twin-prop C-12 observer plane that hung just off their rear
