Airborne Lasers!

[C-101]

U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile | Reuters

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - A U.S. high-powered airborne laser weapon shot down a ballistic missile in the first successful test of a futuristic directed energy weapon, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said on Friday.

The agency said in a statement the test took place at 8:44 p.m. PST (11:44 p.m. EST) on Thursday /0444 GMT on Friday) at Point Mugu's Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division Sea Range off Ventura in central California.

"The Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile" the agency said.

The high-powered Airborne Laser system is being developed by Boeing Co., (BA.N) the prime contractor, and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

Boeing produces the airframe, a modified 747 jumbo jet, while Northrop Grumman (NOC.N) supplies the higher-energy laser and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) is developing the beam and fire control systems.

"This was the first directed energy lethal intercept demonstration against a liquid-fuel boosting ballistic missile target from an airborne platform," the agency added.

The airborne laser weapon successfully underwent its first in-flight test against a target missile back in August. During that test, Boeing said the modified 747-400F aircraft took off from Edwards Air Force Base and used its infrared sensors to find a target missile launched from San Nicolas Island, California.

The plane's battle management system issued engagement and target location instructions to the laser's fire control system, which tracked the target and fired a test laser at the missile. Instruments on the missile verified the system had hit its mark, Boeing said.

The airborne laser weapon is aimed at deterring enemy missile attacks and providing the U.S. military with the ability to engage all classes of ballistic missiles at the speed of light while they are in the boost phase of flight.

"The revolutionary use of directed energy is very attractive for missile defense, with the potential to attack multiple targets at the speed of light, at a range of hundreds of kilometers (miles), and at a low cost per intercept attempt compared to current technologies," the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said.

If this pans out, it will be huge. Airborne laser defense systems would have to capacity to negate the effectiveness of almost all anti-aircraft weapons today, as they are almost exclusively missile-based.

In a weird sort of way, America could see its enemies pulling out the old flak guns again.

. . .

Suddenly the Germans start manufacturing 88's again; this time for Iran.

 

[TheSuaveOne]

Sharks with wings...and lasers.

-TSO

 

[Vast LWC]

Actually, I have to admit this is pretty damn cool.

My only question is, how much does it cost?

 

[C-101]

Actually, I have to admit this is pretty damn cool.

My only question is, how much does it cost?

Probably more than we can afford right now as a nation.

But, these lasers certainly act as a major insurance policy for our uber-expensive air force.

 

[Charles Stucker]

Actually, I have to admit this is pretty damn cool.

My only question is, how much does it cost?

Probably a lot less than expected. There have been enormous advances in optics and specialty materials in the last twenty years.
The defense is missiles with a defense, likely a coating which reflects the proper wavelengths, against the laser itself.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

Love the concept. But the defense against it will probably be cheap.

But here is Iran spending all that money on Missile systems,and we can knock them down before they leave country.

Particle beams would probably be more effective. But this is still way cool

 

[uscitizen]

Yeah we will just need to keep about 300 of those laser planes up there all the time to keep us safe.

Then the unfair bastiges might shoot missles at us in cloudy weather....

 

[xsited1]

I'm still waiting for this:

 

[Ragnar]

Cool. getting closer and closer...

 

[Charles Stucker]

Cool. getting closer and closer.

Thanks to the efforts of some real geniuses.

 

[theDoctorisIn]

The return of SDI.

Edward Teller would be so proud.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

The return of SDI.

Edward Teller would be so proud.

From: Ronald W Reagan
To: Carl Sagan and other doubters
Re: SDI

Fuck You!!!

 

[theDoctorisIn]

The return of SDI.

Edward Teller would be so proud.

From: Ronald W Reagan
To: Carl Sagan and other doubters
Re: SDI

Fuck You!!!

Yeah, 30 years later we have the technology for it.
We didn't then. Teller was a weaponophile who's imagination exceeded both his talent and technology at the time. Reagan bought Teller's line.

Sagan was right.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

The return of SDI.

Edward Teller would be so proud.

From: Ronald W Reagan
To: Carl Sagan and other doubters
Re: SDI

Fuck You!!!

Yeah, 30 years later we have the technology for it.
We didn't then. Teller was a weaponophile who's imagination exceeded both his talent and technology at the time. Reagan bought Teller's line.

Sagan was right.

Sagan is a flat Earther on Star Wars.

 

[uscitizen]

Cruise missle on a cloudy day and lazy thingy no work.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

Cruise missle on a cloudy day and lazy thingy no work.

What basis do you have to say that? There was nothing in there about weather being a problem.


I think you may be right, I don't know. But nothing has been said.

 

[uscitizen]

Cruise missle on a cloudy day and lazy thingy no work.

What basis do you have to say that? There was nothing in there about weather being a problem.


I think you may be right, I don't know. But nothing has been said.

they have not come up with a laser yet that will shoot thru clouds worth a darn.
lasers are coherrent light, the clouds reflect and refract the light scattering it out.

 

[Charles Stucker]

Cruise missle on a cloudy day and lazy thingy no work.

What basis do you have to say that? There was nothing in there about weather being a problem.


I think you may be right, I don't know. But nothing has been said.

they have not come up with a laser yet that will shoot thru clouds worth a darn.
lasers are coherrent light, the clouds reflect and refract the light scattering it out.

Actually depending on the frequency it might have pretty fair cloud penetration. That however is the sort of data (frequency of the output beam) which should remain heavily classified as long as possible.

 

[Cold Fusion38]

U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile | Reuters

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - A U.S. high-powered airborne laser weapon shot down a ballistic missile in the first successful test of a futuristic directed energy weapon, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said on Friday.

The agency said in a statement the test took place at 8:44 p.m. PST (11:44 p.m. EST) on Thursday /0444 GMT on Friday) at Point Mugu's Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division Sea Range off Ventura in central California.

"The Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile" the agency said.

The high-powered Airborne Laser system is being developed by Boeing Co., (BA.N) the prime contractor, and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

Boeing produces the airframe, a modified 747 jumbo jet, while Northrop Grumman (NOC.N) supplies the higher-energy laser and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) is developing the beam and fire control systems.

"This was the first directed energy lethal intercept demonstration against a liquid-fuel boosting ballistic missile target from an airborne platform," the agency added.

The airborne laser weapon successfully underwent its first in-flight test against a target missile back in August. During that test, Boeing said the modified 747-400F aircraft took off from Edwards Air Force Base and used its infrared sensors to find a target missile launched from San Nicolas Island, California.

The plane's battle management system issued engagement and target location instructions to the laser's fire control system, which tracked the target and fired a test laser at the missile. Instruments on the missile verified the system had hit its mark, Boeing said.

The airborne laser weapon is aimed at deterring enemy missile attacks and providing the U.S. military with the ability to engage all classes of ballistic missiles at the speed of light while they are in the boost phase of flight.

"The revolutionary use of directed energy is very attractive for missile defense, with the potential to attack multiple targets at the speed of light, at a range of hundreds of kilometers (miles), and at a low cost per intercept attempt compared to current technologies," the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said.

If this pans out, it will be huge. Airborne laser defense systems would have to capacity to negate the effectiveness of almost all anti-aircraft weapons today, as they are almost exclusively missile-based.

In a weird sort of way, America could see its enemies pulling out the old flak guns again.

. . .

Suddenly the Germans start manufacturing 88's again; this time for Iran.

Are you HIGH what does a BALLISTIC missile have in common with an anti AIRCRAFT missile, except of course they both FLY!!!??? How many targets do you think this HEAP OF SHIT laser will be able to target? As for its usefullness against BALLISTIC missiles it has NONE unless you are going to CONSTANTLY fly a massive FLEET of them 24/7 just outside of Russian airspace!

 

[Cold Fusion38]

Are you people REALLY this FUCKING STUPID!!!??? Did any of you Star Wars types read what the OP actually SAID!!!??? He thinks this will be used to combat ground to air ANTI AIRCRAFT missiles? I have NEVER seen a more BLATANT MISUNDERSTANDING of what a system is MEANT to do and what it ABSOLUTELY can NOT do.