USAF Tests Anti-Ground C-130 Laser

[Mig-29]

A U.S. Air Force C-130 incinerated a dummy ground target by firing a megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser at White Sands Missile Range, N.M, during a June 13 test of the service's Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL), Boeing officials said.

"We fired the laser in-flight. We hit a target board on the ground," said Gary Fitzmire, vice president of Boeing's directed energy systems.

The test flight originated from nearby Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

The ATL - configured to deploy on a C-130 - is designed to destroy ground targets while moving with little or no collateral damage, Fitzmire said.

"We were able to conduct many ground tests to build confidence of the system and the laser itself. Last summer, we conducted an integrated ground test. Our targets are ground-based tactical targets such as a fuel tank, vehicle or communications node," Fitzmire said.

The roughly $200 million ATL program began in late 2002. Several more flight tests are planned for this summer, Fitzmere said.

USAF Tests Anti-Ground C-130 Laser - Defense News

 

[Thomas]

A U.S. Air Force C-130 incinerated a dummy ground target by firing a megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser at White Sands Missile Range, N.M, during a June 13 test of the service's Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL), Boeing officials said.

"We fired the laser in-flight. We hit a target board on the ground," said Gary Fitzmire, vice president of Boeing's directed energy systems.

The test flight originated from nearby Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

The ATL - configured to deploy on a C-130 - is designed to destroy ground targets while moving with little or no collateral damage, Fitzmire said.

"We were able to conduct many ground tests to build confidence of the system and the laser itself. Last summer, we conducted an integrated ground test. Our targets are ground-based tactical targets such as a fuel tank, vehicle or communications node," Fitzmire said.

The roughly $200 million ATL program began in late 2002. Several more flight tests are planned for this summer, Fitzmere said.

USAF Tests Anti-Ground C-130 Laser - Defense News

While I do believe that the U.S. leads in the development of Laser weapons. And also have been able to test field Weapons powerful enough for the battlefield. The U.S. has hit a technical wall right now in regards to the laser lenses being able to handle high power ranges without becoming damaged. Will this problem be overcome? I think so. I'm sure if they have not already found a answer they will before to long. But no matter what High energy weapons systems will experience delays in being fielded.

 

[Vassnti]

While I do believe that the U.S. leads in the development of Laser weapons. And also have been able to test field Weapons powerful enough for the battlefield. The U.S. has hit a technical wall right now in regards to the laser lenses being able to handle high power ranges without becoming damaged. Will this problem be overcome? I think so. I'm sure if they have not already found a answer they will before to long. But no matter what High energy weapons systems will experience delays in being fielded.

I am no laser expert but i thought the main problem was heating causing distortion thus spreading the beam and rendering it inefective as a weapon system, if they managed to destroy a target it would seem at least some of the focus problems have been fixed. Though it would be nice to know what range the target was at a C-130 could get pretty close to a target.
What i wonder is when they can get the weight down sending a C-130 with six multi million dollar lasers to take out a single target seems an expensive way to do the job of a marine sniper.

 

[Thomas]

I am no laser expert but i thought the main problem was heating causing distortion thus spreading the beam and rendering it inefective as a weapon system, if they managed to destroy a target it would seem at least some of the focus problems have been fixed. Though it would be nice to know what range the target was at a C-130 could get pretty close to a target.
What i wonder is when they can get the weight down sending a C-130 with six multi million dollar lasers to take out a single target seems an expensive way to do the job of a marine sniper.

The main problem is the higher the laser power. the more sensitive the laser is to lens imperfections. and Battlefield lasers will be extremely susceptible to environmental contamination.

 

[AirforcePilot]

Laser Plane Moves Closer to Missile Kill Test

A program to develop a massive missile-killing laser housed in a 747 freighter celebrated another milestone last month with a successful test of its fire control and tracking system on a simulated target.

The Airborne Laser program - a joint venture between defense giants Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman - identified, tracked and fired a low-powered laser at a reflector attached to an NC-135E Big Crow research aircraft during tests that ended August 23, one of the final hurdles before a live-fire "lethal demonstration" is conducted in 2009.

"The program remains on track to complete a lethal demonstration in 2009 that will validate the unique contribution ABL can bring to an integrated ballistic missile defense system as a boost phase element," said Greg Hyslop, Boeing program manager for ABL during a Sept. 4 telephone interview. "We stand on the verge of fully demonstrating a revolutionary warfighting capability - the ability to defend ourselves and our friends and allies with light."

But while program officials are touting their latest test and previewing the big event to come in '09, the ABL program remains in budgetary limbo. Congressional defense authorizers slashed the 2008 ABL budget by about $250 million, a cut that would in effect delay the shoot-down test by two years.

One of the factors that surely weighs on lawmakers as they allocate funds for a wide range of defense projects - including billions for the expansion of the Army and Marine Corps, new Air Force fighters and Navy ships - is the ABL's strategic-level sticker price. At an estimated $1.5 billion per aircraft, a seven-plane squadron comes at a hefty price for a capability that many see as extremely controversial.

"We continue to inform Congress on the status of the program and how far we've come ... that the program has yet to have a technical challenge that we haven't been able to overcome," Hyslop said. "We need the president's budget request to stay on track."

The laser plane includes a "megawatt class" high-energy chemical laser designed to shoot down the kind of missiles fired from countries like North Korea or Iran. The laser targets the missile's fuel tank, taking advantage of pressure and velocity to "unzip" the rocket, rendering it powerless during its initial flight.

"The internal pressure and aerodynamic forces, once the wall is weakened, is what actually destroys the missile," Hyslop explained.

Officials say systems for handling the chemicals that are used to re-arm the laser have proven safe, helping encourage reluctant governments such as Japan make the case for potential basing of ABLs in their soil.

Source: Defensetech.org

 

[applesauce]

lasers are nice but eats up batteries like a mother@#$^@$

 

[Thomas]

lasers are nice but eats up batteries like a mother@#$^@$

lol, lasers don't use batteries

 

[gambit]

lol, lasers don't use batteries

Well...Thanks a lot...Mr. Tell-all. Should have keep quiet and let the Chinese waste their resources on developing giant batteries in trying to keep up with US. Now look what you have done.

 

[applesauce]

Well...Thanks a lot...Mr. Tell-all. Should have keep quiet and let the Chinese waste their resources on developing giant batteries in trying to keep up with US. Now look what you have done.

WOW people i was talking about portable battle field lasers but i guess u guys cant let someone offer a comment without stomping on their face after words thank god my American friends aren't like u two, anyways let my change my post to something about air lasers, they eat a lot of power, happy now?