When is a laser weapon not a weapon? When it's the ASELSAN YILDIRIM 100 Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) System that doesn't actually destroy incoming infrared missiles, but instead blinds them before they have a chance to lock on target.

When discussing military hardware, the temptation is to focus on the things that go "boom." However, a surprisingly large proportion is made to defend against boom or prevent boom altogether. That's the rationale behind stealth technology and missile countermeasures, which have become increasingly sophisticated over the years.