Jumbo-jet ray cannon in missile-vape success
Sidelined sky-blaster finally gets some
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The US Missile Defence Agency's mighty, jumbo-jet-borne energy cannon, the Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB), finally made good on decades of promises last week as it blasted a test missile out of existence above the Pacific. However the ALTB and its chemical laser technology have been relegated almost to the status of a curiosity in recent times, and the belated success is unlikely to see the project resurgent.
According to missile-defence spokesmen:
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.This was the first directed energy lethal intercept demonstration against a liquid-fuel boosting ballistic missile target from an airborne platform...
Less than one hour later, a second solid fuel short-range missile was launched from a ground location on San Nicolas Island, California, and the ALTB successfully engaged the boosting target with its High Energy Laser, met all its test criteria, and terminated lasing prior to destroying the second target.
There will have been champagne corks popping at the missile-defence headquarters over the weekend, but even so we aren't likely to see a mighty fleet of raygun jumbos patrolling the skies near rogue nations in order to blast any threatening missiles as soon as they take off.
Firstly, ALTB type planes would need to be within a few hundred km of the missile launch sites - or within the airspace of Iran, for instance. Secondly, even in the event of energy-weapon defence being seen as the way forward, the now old-fashioned chemical laser tech in the ALTB would probably not be chosen. The raygun jumbo's weapon requires troublesome topping-off with dangerous fuels, and in recent years electrical lasers have gone from strength to strength.
Quite apart from this, the Obama administration has lately de-emphasised exotic missile defence kit such as lasers and mid-course interceptors in favour of cheaper and perhaps more reliable gear like the Standard SM-3 naval interceptor.
Nonetheless last week's test is interesting news. We'll chase upon the reasons behind the aborted second lasing (did the jumbo run out of laser juice?) and let you know. ®
COMMENTS
Yay for the big white elephant!
I'm actually quite chuffed it's managed to shoot something (or at least 1 of 2 somethings) down. This way when it finally gets cancelled and dumped in the dustbin of history at least we'll be able to resurrect something vaguely working when the alien invasion arrives and we REALLY need a giant airborne laser.
"What're we gonna do Chuck Killemall?! The alien mothership is veeerrry slowly making it's way to DC and we've already used 1 hour 40 on pointless back story!"
"Stay cool Bill. I've just had an idea that could wrap this implausible movie up in 10 minutes. Now grab my flying jacket, we've got a job to do." (Cue determined but thoughtful look. Fade to black.)
Test criteria fulfilled?
So the first test criteria were to destroy the target, but the second test was only to partially "lase" the target and then terminate prematurely? That doesn't sound likely. It sounds like a nice way to say the second test failed.
Laseing terminated due to..
Line of sight considerations. its only safe to engage the target when the line of sight to the background is safe. this is only a very small area of calif. once the line of sight to target was off the military range the laseing has to cease.
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