US laser shoots down missile in a test

[chaseyqurt]

A HIGH-energy laser mounted on a US military aircraft has shot down a ballistic missile in the first successful test of the weapon, the US Missile Defence Agency says.

The experiment - evoking a scene out of a science fiction film - was carried out off the central California coast at Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Centre on Thursday, the agency said yesterday.

"The Missile Defence 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," it said.

The laser, mounted on a turret on the nose of a modified 747 aircraft, is designed to knock out an enemy missile by burning a hole in its side.

The project has been touted as potentially revolutionary, as the lasers are supposed to destroy ballistic missiles just after launch, when the missiles are moving at a slower speed on a predictable path.



The test could provide a boost to the $US5 billion ($5.61 billion) program that has faced technical problems and been scaled back from initial plans that called for building a fleet of seven laser-equipped aircraft.

Last year Defence Secretary Robert Gates cancelled funds for a second prototype aircraft and called for more research to refine the weapon. He said the proposed role for the laser remained "highly questionable" amid questions about its cost and effectiveness.

The proposed defence budget for fiscal 2011 has no specific funding for the airborne laser but includes about $US99 million ($111.16 million) for directed energy research, Missile Defence Agency spokesman Richard Lehner said.

Aerospace giant Boeing is the lead contractor for the program, with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin as partners.

In a successful test last year, the high-powered laser was fired from mid-air for the first time.

Source

:O Discuse.

[Ad Bot]

[oromis]

Pew Pew

[WRB852]

Sweet, now we can nuke Russia without repercussions!

[Anybody]

im stupid didnt read it all, dont mind me

[Skip]

im stupid didnt read it all, dont mind me

Then why'd you post?

[Anybody]

Then why'd you post?

Ninja edit, I was pointing out how they already tested a laser back in 2000 to shoot down a missile. But this was mounted to an aircraft

[Skip]

Ninja edit, I was pointing out how they already tested a laser back in 2000 to shoot down a missile. But this was mounted to an aircraft

oic

[Squideey]

Cool. God just paid half of his experience points to buy the laser weapon tool.

[Anybody]

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/laser-00g.html

This was what I first thought he meant.

[Dodger]

Now we can have air mobile anti missile defenses set up in other NATO counties.

[Travis [bob36455]]

You soooooo saw this comeing

[Riot]

 This is old news to me, I've heard of this on the Military channel years ago of how they are testing these things; and where they will be mounted. The US Army mounted Lasers on their hummers to destroy Landmines and IED's. It melts a hole through inches of steel in seconds.

[Chrono]

This is old news to me, I've heard of this on the Military channel years ago of how they are testing these things; and where they will be mounted. The US Army mounted Lasers on their hummers to destroy Landmines and IED's. It melts a hole through inches of steel in seconds.

This is old news to several Blockland members.

This was posted before.

[Rughugger]

The idea is very old in itself. There was a movie starring a rather young Val Kilmer that dealt with this topic back in the 80's. Real Genius I suggest you all rent it or something.

[chesse20]

us should go take over the world or something