An attack missile is disabled during its travel through atmospheric regions, enroute to a selected target, by directing, with the aid of a pointer tracker, a first continuous wave laser beam produced by a chemical laser from a first location through the atmosphere onto a given area of the missile to release radiant heating energy in the given area; and simultaneously directing, with the aid of another pointer tracker, a second continuous wave laser beam produced by a second chemical laser from a second location through the atmosphere onto the same given area of the missile to release radiant heating energy in the given area. The beams are arranged so that there is no material overlap between the laser beams enroute to the missile. Over a short duration the laser beams release a combined radiant heating energy on the given area of the missile sufficient in amount to at least damage a portion of the given area of said missile, resulting in the missile's destruction.
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