Airborne Laser Achieves Full Power In Ground Test

Posted on: Dec. 12th, 2005 || Source: aviationweek.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Airborne Laser (ABL) program met a key goal earlier this month by firing its chemical kill laser at full power during a ground test, the agency announced Dec. 9.

During the Dec. 6 test, the Northrop Grumman-built chemical laser exceeded the 10-second duration level needed to destroy ballistic missiles in their boost phase of flight, MDA said. The precise duration of the firing was not disclosed for security reasons, the agency said.

The test, which occurred in the System Integration Lab at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., was the culmination of more than 70 laser firings. The laser's "first light," which lasted a fraction of a second, occurred in November 2004 (DAILY, Nov. 15, 2004).

"First light proved that the laser worked," a Defense Department spokesman told The DAILY. "This 10 second-plus test proved that it fires long enough to destroy ballistic missiles."

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