Does this sound like a bad idea to anyone else?

Northrop Grumman have apparently built this comparatively lightweight LASER for weapons use.

Besides very helpfully noting that solid state LASERs are "powered by electricity" (thanks) they mention that this particular unit is equipped with ... Ethernet connectivity?

Call me old-fashioned, but I actually prefer that this be usable only with an ancient proprietary controller port that requires the government pony up another $20k just to buy the handheld module that goes with it. And then requires them to park some sucker of a Private First Class next to it to push the "die commies die" button whenever anyone gets close.

Having an IP stack¹ on something capable of 15kW of power output seems a little risky.

Courtesy Engadget.

¹ I realize the article only committed to layer-1 connectivity. But really—who builds an Ethernet app that talks at the MAC layer these days?