| Military contractors have successfully fired a | | | | spokesman for Northrop Grumman, the makers of the |
| high-energy laser attached to a modified commercial | | | | Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL). But this was |
| aircraft, in a ground test that is a step towards testing | | | | long enough to prove "the laser is ready to |
| the airborne laser system in flight. Boeing and Northrop | | | | demonstrate power output sufficient to destroy a |
| Grumman are working on the system, which is | | | | ballistic missile in flight," he adds [Aviation Week]. The |
| intended to shoot down ballistic missiles. | | | | laser would work by heating the missile's skin, |
| The laser is in the back half of a Boeing 747-400F | | | | weakening it and causing it to break apart from |
| jumbo jet. Subsequent tests will increase duration and | | | | high-speed flight stress. |
| power before the beam is sent through a fire control | | | | The system is designed to find, follow and intercept |
| system to a turret mounted in the nose of the aircraft | | | | enemy missiles after they've been launched, according |
| [AP]. A long series of ground tests and flight tests will | | | | to the Air Force. In theory, the Airborne Laser would fly |
| build up to an attempt to intercept and destroy a | | | | below the clouds, where it could track a missile in its |
| ballistic missile in flight; that test is scheduled for August | | | | "boost flight phase," according to the Air Force. Then, |
| 2009. The Defense Department has already spent $4 | | | | using a high-power laser, it would knock out the |
| billion on the airborne laser system, and the final price | | | | weapon near its launch area…. The laser |
| tag is expected to reach $5 billion. | | | | produces enough energy in a five-second burst to |
| The test, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., | | | | power a typical household for more than an hour. |
| lasted only a "fraction of a second" says a | | | | |