U.S. anti-missile laser passes critical test
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, April 4, 2001
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has demonstrated a crucial component
in the development of an anti-missile airborne laser.
The ABL program aims to develop a system that can destroy ballistic
missiles and their launchers through a beam of a high-energy laser. Leading
U.S. companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and TRW are
involved in the program.
Executives said Raytheon has achieved what they termed a crucial
milestone in the development of the beam control/fire control system, Middle East Newsline reported. The
system is meant to fire the laser at the target missile during its initial
boost phase from ranges of hundreds of kilometers away.
The milestone was the first "light test" of the Track Illuminator Laser
at a facility El Segundo, Calif. The TILL, one of four critical lasers in
the ABL, was the first to demonstrate that it can project powerful pulses of
light on a small section of a missile and obtain data of the target's speed,
elevation and probable point of impact.
Executives said the test demonstrated the power of the fire control
system, which operated for 30 minutes, far more than expected. Lockheed
Martin is developing the fire control system. The high-energy
chemical-oxygen-iodine laser will be provided by TRW.
"This is a brand new technology and the test proves the design is
valid," Lockheed Martin ABL program manager Paul Shattuck said. "For the ABL
program we pushed both sides of the equation — a more
sensitive sensor and a more powerful illuminator laser. This reduced the
development risk because the components can compensate for each other."
The TILL is scheduled to be delivered later this year for integration by
Lockheed Martin. A full test of the ABL, the prime contractor of which is
Boeing, will take place next year. Boeing supplies the 747-400 freighter
aircraft and the battle management, command and control system.
Wednesday, April 4, 2001
|