Seems I heard something about these several years ago.  The testbed was mounted on a Boeing 747 airframe, and back then was called ABL, for AirBorne Laser.

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/abl/flash.html

Contains details about the ABL program, which is alive and well.  EMD should start in 2003 (this is basically getting the design work out of the way for initial production).

Look for developments in the near future for gaseous chemicals to replace the liquid chemicals for the laser - the weight decrease will make these systems way more practical.

The THEL is cool, but I wonder about it's vulnerability on a battle field - the projector sits on top of an unarmored truck.  Of course, if you are truly the baddest dude in the valley, this may be a minor consideration, especially if these weapons are deployed in groups that can provide self protection all around.

Another directed energy weapon, which I can't recall the name for, will be deployed as an anti-personnel weapon.  It is used to heat the enemy soldier's body to uncomfortable temperatures at sufficient range to prevent them from using small arms fire against the unit, and to cause them to withdraw from the field.  It is not supposed to cook a soldier, but who knows how long before there is a malfunction?  I believe this unit is very near deployment.

Do search on directed energy weapons; you will probably unearth this one easily.

Okay, here is an article on the Vehicle-Mounted Active Denial System (my recollection is that the name may have changed since this article was printed) -http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2001/010226-upi.htm

AeroE, here it is:
[url]http://www.mapcruzin.com/news/war080801a.htm[/url]
[url]http://shadow.autono.net/sin001/crowdcon.htm[/url]
All this is, is a microwave oven without the cavity.  It CAN be a lethal weapon, quite easily.

A good amount of both, HC.