Frickin 747s with Fricken Laser Beams on Their Nose

[SynixMan]

Well, ABL finally got one in the kill column. At least it's manned? I remember reading about the thing in grade school, so nice to know something functional came out of that money pit.

http://www.mda.mil/news/10news0002.html

 

[Mumbles]

ABL Successful

First shootdown by the Airborne Laser. SH!

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1111660620100212?type=marketsNews

 

[scoolbubba]

I thought this baby was on the chopping block?

 

[squorch2]

It wasn't a shootdown - they still haven't gone to full power on the laser while airborne. Still, the tracking and targeting capabilities are impressive.

 

[mmx1]

Gates axed the second prototype but continued it as a research program - hence ALTB vice ABL.

 

[Flash]

The more you learn about it's capabilities and more importantly, it's limitations, the less impressive it is. Very wise decision to kill the larger program.

 

[Goober]

It wasn't a shootdown - they still haven't gone to full power on the laser while airborne. Still, the tracking and targeting capabilities are impressive.

?
Says here it was a kill...

Airborne Laser Testbed Successful in Lethal Intercept Experiment

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Airborne laser testbed successful in lethal intercept experiment
The YAL-1A, a modified Boeing 747-400F known as the Airborne Laser, lands at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The Airborne Laser Testbed successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile Feb. 11 over the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo)

 

[Recovering LSO]

as an side note, the 747 is the smallest aircraft that can currently carry the equipment.

 

[picklesuit]

I think the part where the range is limited to 100 miles could be an issue...that and line-of-sight (unless you can bend a laser around the curvature of the earth)...I'm not entirely sure about the practical applicability of this; but some really cool science!

 

[PropStop]

Wonder how well it'd do against a fighter or a cruise missile.