On Februrary 11th, the Airborne Laser Testbed successfully fired its main laser to destroy a boosting ballistic missile. The ABL is a one-of-a-kind Boeing 747-400F that has been modified to shoot down a ballistic missiles during the boost phase. The ABL uses infrared sensors to detect a ballistic missile being launched. After the missile is detected, the ABL uses three low-power lasers to calculate the course of the missile, speed, aimpoint, and air turbulence. The normal turbulence that occurs in the atmosphere can distort a main laser beam. To correct for this, the ABL uses adaptive optics to correct for this. By firing a distorted laser beam, the ABL is using the atmosphere to act like the lenses on a person’s glasses to correct it. The ABL then fires the main chemical oxygen iodine laser that is mounted in the nose of the 747. The laser fires for 3 to 5 seconds which causes the missile to disintegrate. The images to the right show the ballistic missile in boost phase, the engagement from the ABL, and the missile destruction. From the news release:
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.
Visit the site below to see video of the engagement.
via : Airborne Laser Testbed Successful in Lethal Intercept Experiment
