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| Airborne Laser Testbed Successful in Lethal Intercept Experiment |
| 2010-02-12 |
| 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 experiment, conducted at Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division Sea Range off the central California coast, serves as a proof-of-concept demonstration for directed energy technology. The ALTB is a pathfinder for the nation's directed energy program and its potential application for missile defense technology. At 8:44 p.m. (PST), February 11, 2010, a short-range threat-representative ballistic missile was launched from an at-sea mobile launch platform. Within seconds, the ALTB used onboard sensors to detect the boosting missile and used a low-energy laser to track the target. The ALTB then fired a second low-energy laser to measure and compensate for atmospheric disturbance. Finally, the ALTB fired its megawatt-class High Energy Laser, heating the boosting ballistic missile to critical structural failure. The entire engagement occurred within two minutes of the target missile launch, while its rocket motors were still thrusting. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #4 SteelJawScribe has quite a bit more on the test inc: At 8:44 p.m. (PST), February 11, 2010, a short-range threat-representative ballistic missile was launched from an at-sea mobile launch platform. Within seconds, the ALTB used onboard sensors to detect the boosting missile Target launch from Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) for another test (Aegis BMD) and used a low-energy laser to track the target. The ALTB then fired a second low-energy laser to measure and compensate for atmospheric disturbance. Finally, the ALTB fired its megawatt-class High Energy Laser, heating the boosting ballistic missile to critical structural failure. The entire engagement occurred within two minutes of the target missile launch, while its rocket motors were still thrusting. This was followed by a shoot down of a solid fuel boosted missile within an hour. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2010-02-12 22:10 |
| #3 Nice shootin' men. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2010-02-12 20:53 |
| #2 vid |
| Posted by: 3dc 2010-02-12 20:33 |
| #1 HMMMMM, HMMMMM, wehell, could be wrong but I believe USMDA + DARPA/NASA-JPL have been quietly or covertly conducting a number of LATE NIGHT = POST-MIDNITE TESTS of the ABL over GUAM-WESTPAC [Agana Bay + Central Guam]. The planes I've seen have been shooting at thingys that don't leave any FIERY TAIL - ALL ONE SEES IS THE HORIZONTAL LASERS EMANATING FROM THE PLANE TIP. IMO, unless the USA has dev some kind of ADVANC SMOKE/FLAME-LESS, "COLD START" MISSLE, THEY MAY BE TESTING ON VARIOUS "EXPENDABLE" BIRDS??? Read, PETA = NEW NUDE BABE PROTESTS. Well Alrightey-y-y then - CLEARLY WE MUST SUPPOR PETA, ETC + THEIR MIGHTY FINE ENVIRON PROTEST EFFORTS! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-02-12 19:43 |