Laser fired from nose of 747 for first time

[unhappycamper]

The Airborne Laser fired through its beam control/fire control system and out its nose-mounted turret for the first time Nov. 26.


Laser fired from nose of 747 for first time
Staff report
Posted : Monday Dec 1, 2008 14:07:47 EST

For the first time, the Air Force test fired the high-energy airborne laser it is developing to shoot down missiles, program officials announced Monday.

During the Nov. 24 ground test at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., the laser blazed through the beam control/fire control system before shooting out the turret mounted on the nose of a Boeing 747. The beam control/fire control system, operated by a crew inside the jet, steered and focused the beam onto a simulated ballistic missile target.

“With the achievement ... the team has now completed the two major milestones it hoped to accomplish in 2008, keeping ABL on track to conduct the missile shoot-down demonstration planned for next year,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. The test team achieved “first light” firing Sept. 7 at Edwards.

The ABL aircraft, designated YAL-1A by the Air Force, is a modified Boeing 747-400F whose back half holds the high-energy laser, designed and built by Northrop Grumman. The front section of the aircraft contains the beam control/fire control system, developed by Lockheed Martin, and the battle management system, provided by Boeing.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/12/airforce_airbornelaser_testfire_120108w/%2e