He's right. The best we'd probably have at that point with consecutive wars might be a fully functioning laser, but that isn't like a laser sword. A laser 'cannon' would have to focus for at least ten seconds on a single spot before it'd start doing damage, and even then it'd just fry stuff, not burn a hole through someone. Railguns would probably take the place of regular cannons, and plasma weapons would probably be so experimental that it'd be impossible to use in combat.

Missiles and targeting systems would be much better, though.

... Could we be pilots? For air support and the like? A gunship or something? I'd really like to be air support.