One hundred years ago, in World War I, the first weapons on military aircraft were guys riding behind the pilot, in open cockpits, with rifles or hand-dropped bombs. Soon after that, there were planes with gunners on swiveling turrets. Things have advanced a bit since then, to the point where the the U.S. military is preparing to use lasers as a defense against other aircraft - and we're back to turrets. And these turrets are currently being tested, by Lockheed, in the skies over Michigan.

If you've read this far, it's only because you are a military aircraft nerd like me. Thanks for reading - here's the whole story from Popular Science.

 

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