Guess who's back?

The SA MQ-100 “HAL” (Heavy Airborne Laser) is an unmanned low-observable multi role aircraft, designed primarily for interception and strike missions.

To combat rising tensions in the Pacific Ocean, the SA MQ-100 is deployed by the United States Air Force as a stand-off rapid deployment defense system, protecting airspace and also deterring naval and ground-based infiltrations. It is designed with speed and stealth in mind, as well as a large payload capacity. It functions as a heavy fighter-bomber and interceptor, with the ability to take down any invading vehicle with no risk involved through advanced unmanned operations. It is shown here as part of the 525th fighter squadron, based at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Alaska.

In a multi-role configuration, it carries 4 AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, and 4 GBU-53 Stormbreaker guided glide bombs. This armament is carried within its large internal weapons bays. It is also equipped with a directed energy weapon pod, capable of automatic tracking of targets. This pod is stored inside a second internal bay, and functions to weaken an enemy vehicle's defenses and make it more visible for targeting. If the laser is applied for a long enough duration at close range, it may destroy the enemy. It is also by default equipped with advanced electronic counter-measures.

Because of its stealthy design, it can remain undetected in long-range strike missions, as well as not be detected by an aircraft it is intercepting. It has two large triangular ruddervators at the rear controlling both pitch and yaw. Between these surfaces are two Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning engines taken from the F-35, propelling the aircraft to a maximum supercruise speed of 1,430 mph at 50,000ft, and 1,700 mph with afterburner. These engines are mounted in such a way that a ground-based radar or heat-seeking device cannot detect the jet exhaust. At the front of the aircraft's long nose is a suite of sensors for the electro-optical targeting system and unmanned operations, including a virtual cockpit for the operator.

Here is the standard guide given for MQ-100 operators:
STANDARD FLIGHT CONTROLS
THROTTLE>98: AFTERBURNER
VTOL SLIDER: DOWN FOR FLAPS
TRIM SLIDER: TRIM
GEAR: LANDING GEAR
ACTIVATION GROUP ONE: OPEN BAY AND ARM WEAPONS
ACTIVATION GROUP TWO: DEPLOY AND ACTIVATE DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPON, WORKS BEST WHEN CLOSE RANGE
ACTIVATION GROUP THREE: TOGGLE FLARES (ECM STANDARD)
ACTIVATION GROUP EIGHT: TOGGLE LIGHTS

Credit:
The laser turret system is based entirely on GuyFolk's auto turret, just tweaked slightly. Big thanks to him for letting me use it, I couldn't figure out how to make one myself for the life of me.
The map in the thumbnail is Annapurna GIS by NumbersNumbersTheMan

Initial Design Sketch:

"I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that."