I didn't say it was a small plane. Minimum crew of two people, often up to eight.
Also, regardless of how long it was in R&D, certain things are not possible. The biggest flaw of this is that radio waves do not have this affect on anything, nor does anything that can travel with the mediums described in your scenario.
If you didn't have a problem with it then, then why do you have a problem with it now?
I believe that it would be feasible on a small scale. For instance, the drop pods that have short range (I'd assume up to 65-80 feet) were totally legit. I have no problems whatsoever with that (so long as their price would be reasonable, not some gimmick that you can pick up at a gas station for $0.66, and that they used ECT, not imaginary radio waves)
All I am saying is that I am fine with its use on a small scale. Thirty years from now, I would not be surprised that this would exist in real life. I find the laser form unacceptable.