I read this Boeing Press Release and my first thought was: Oooh, cool!
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Sept. 1, 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force on Aug. 30 defeated a ground target from the air with the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) aircraft, demonstrating ATL's first air-to-ground, high-power laser engagement of a tactically representative target.I believe I would translate this roughly as: "It blowed up real good!"
Via the Weekly Standard blog, where a Boeing spokesperson was asked to expand:
2. What does "Defeat" a ground target mean?"Yup! It blowed up real good!"Answer: The ground target will temporarily/permanently be unavailable for its intended use.