There's a lot of "futuristic " science fiction
type technology that the military has
for years before the general public sees
any of it. Best example I can think of is
back when I was young and lasers were a
highly technical complex thing that took
up a good sized room, just like the
computers of the day
Now any kid can buy a laser pointer for
a dollar and change at the dollar store,
and a computer is built into most
every cellular phone.
I've always thought that the gubmint has
ray guns that work like a plasma cutter
does, except that it would project a
hot jet out like the science fiction death ray
back in the old days. You still don't see
much about the microwave weapons
that they have