It may be a laser weapon of the future, but Lockheed Martin tested it this week and successfully burned through and disabled a truck engine from a distance of more than a mile. The laser system ATHENA (Advanced Test High Energy Asset) was developed as a nonlethal way to protect key infrastructure and military forces.

A typical laser pointer has a beam of around 1 milliwatt. ATHENA creates a beam of 30 kilowatts, 30 million times more. Lockheed Martin describes it as the “highest power ever documented by a laser weapon of its type.” It is economical as well. Web magazine Engadget recently reported that the cost of firing one surface-to-air missile is about $400,000. The experimental laser costs about 59 cents per shot.

The truck was not actually driving when its engine was destroyed. It was up on props for the test with the engine running and in drive. However, the accuracy was such that the laser put a hole in the truck’s hood and disabled the engine, but did not destroy the vehicle.

ATHENA uses spectral beam combining, which Lockheed Martin says offers “greater efficiency and lethality” than the multiple individual 10-kilowatt lasers that are used by other systems. Three 10-kilowatt lasers were used together to create the ATHENA 30-kilowatt beam.

Experimentation with lasers has been around for some time. Boeing developed the Advanced Tactical Laser in 2008, which successfully hit a moving target. Boeing has developed some other laser weapons as well. Progress in the field has not been laser beam fast though.

ATHENA could be a valuable innovation for the military because of its ability to stop ground-based adversaries long before they get close to front line operations. The recent test was the first time that such a device was field-tested.