The author summarizes results of a breakthrough at Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL) over two years ago, but only recently reported because of security classification. Essentially, a special magnet called a tapered undulator was used to effect the conversion of 40% of the energy of the electron beam of an LLNL accelerator into microwave laser radiation (NOTE: tapering is maintaining the necessary resonance condition by progressively decreasing the dipole period or the magnetic flux along the undulator). This establishes the free-electron laser (FEL) as a leading candidate for the directed-energy alternatives in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program. The Army's Strategic Defense Command, which is managing the SDI FEL program, is interested in near-infrared wavelengths near 1 ..mu..m and intends to build a facility for such research at its White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The author describes the basics of the LLNL experiment and some of the closely related work of Los Alamos Scientific Lab. and a Boeing Aerospace - Spectra Technology collaboration, emphasizing the problems in going to the visible or near-infrared wavelengths. The near-term future activities of each of these organizations are described briefly. 2 references.