July 5, 2007: Awesome airborne 747-mounted laser cannon

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Boeing

Airborne Laser passes critical test
In recent flight tests, the Airborne Laser successfully accomplished the basic
steps required to complete a fire control loop (sequence of events) to engage a
boosting ballistic missile, Lt. Gen. Henry A. "Trey" Obering, Missile Defense
Agency director, announced Monday. (Pam Keeton photo)The Airborne Laser on June
29 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., successfully accomplished the basic steps
to engage a boosting ballistic missile.
Lt. Gen. Henry A. Obering, Missile Defense Agency director, said Monday that the
exercise included the first in-flight propagation of the Surrogate High Energy
Laser through the modified 747-400 ABL aircraft's nose-mounted turret. The ABL
aircraft used its infrared and beam-control sensors to demonstrate a key system
capability -- to successfully find and track a target aircraft used for the
test.
Completing the basic fire control process of an engagement sequence marks a
significant step in the rapid technical and engineering progress achieved by the
program over the past three years, the agency said.
During the test, the modified Boeing 747-400 first used its infrared sensors and
beam control sensors to successfully find and track "Big Crow," the target
aircraft used for the test.

On this initial test of the SHEL, ABL made use of beacon lasers installed on Big
Crow to simulate the targeting return it would receive from a live missile
target.

The SHEL is a low-power laser used to simulate the characteristics of the
high-energy Chemical Iodine Oxygen Laser that will be installed on ABL beginning
later this year. The high-power laser has completed more than 70 successful
firings during ground testing.

In subsequent tests planned for later this month, the ABL will conduct a
complete engagement series using its tracking illuminator laser, its atmospheric
compensation laser, and the SHEL. The SHEL was installed on the ABL aircraft
during aircraft ground modifications and is an important component to test ABL's
ability to compensate for atmospheric distortions and deliver sufficient power
on target to destroy a boosting ballistic missile shortly after it is launched.

In other words, it don't work yet and won't for a while.