Let's All Be REALLY Nice To That Airplane With The
Laser...
The Boeing-led Airborne
Laser team has successfully completed a series of tests
involving its high energy laser at the Systems Integration Lab at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. During this test series, lasing
duration and power were demonstrated at levels suitable for the
destruction of multiple classes of ballistic missiles.
This is the second of two program significant knowledge points
planned for 2005.
Airborne Laser's (ABL) megawatt-class Chemical Oxygen Iodine
Laser (COIL) is designed and built by Northrop Grumman Corporation.
Lasing tests included more than 70 separate lasing events. The
laser has been operated at simulated altitude, and achieved steady
state operations under full optical control.
In July 2005, the ABL team completed the year's first knowledge
point, which was flight testing of the system's passive mission
payload at Edwards Air Force Base. During those tests, the team
demonstrated the stability and alignment of the two Beam Control
and Fire Control optical benches with the turret. That test also
demonstrated the system's pointing and vibration control functions,
as well as its ability to acquire targets as directed by the battle
management segment.
With the completion of
the above milestones for 2005, the program now proceeds to
integrated systems testing. The ABL YAL-1A aircraft has
transitioned to Boeing's Wichita facility to undergo final aircraft
modifications for installation of the High Energy Laser modules and
to begin Low Power System Integration-Active ground and flight
testing.
During active testing, the kilowatt-class illuminator lasers
will be integrated and tested to demonstrate target acquisition,
fine tracking, pointing and atmospheric compensation. Upon
completion of active testing, the YAL-1 will return to Edwards Air
Force Base for installation of the High Energy Laser, which will be
removed from the System Integration Laboratory. This will be
followed by extensive weapon systems testing on the aircraft --
both ground and flight.
"This is a major technological achievement for the Airborne
Laser program," said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general
manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems.
"Proving the capability of this laser to operate at lethal
levels of power and duration moves the system a major step closer
to becoming a vital component of the nation's boost phase defense
against a ballistic missile threat. We have made continued steady
progress on this program breaking new technological ground every
day, with each test increment leading to the lethal shoot down
milestone."
The ABL consists of a
megawatt-class, high-energy Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser placed on
a Boeing 747-400 aircraft. ABL is a key component of the Missile
Defense Agency's overall ballistic missile defense architecture. In
operation, the ABL's sensor system will autonomously detect and
track an enemy's boosting missile, determine its position and
destroy it with the high energy laser. The ABL's sensor system also
identifies the launch location and predicts the impact location,
which is communicated to other elements in the missile defense
architecture.