Airborne Laser (ABL): Issues for Congress

Abstract

Funding for the Airborne Laser (ABL) program began in FY1994, but the technologies supporting the ABL effort has evolved over 25 years of research and development concerning laser power concepts, pointing and tracking, and adaptive optics. Delayed now for many years, the ABL program plans to conduct a lethality test now scheduled for August 2009. To date, about $4.3 billion has been spent on the ABL program, including $632 million for FY2007. For FY2008, the Administration requested $548.8 billion, which was cut substantially in the House and Senate defense authorization bills. This report examines the ABL program and budget status. It also examines some of the issues raised above. This report does not provide a detailed technical assessment of the ABL program (see CRS Report RL30185, The Airborne Laser Anti-Missile Program, by Michael E. Davey and Frederick Martin.). This report is updated periodically as necessary.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 09, 2007
Accession Number
ADA470265

Entities

People

  • Christopher Bolkcom
  • Steven A. Hildreth

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Chemical Lasers
  • Chemical Oxygen Iodine Lasers
  • Defense Systems
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Laser Beams
  • Lasers
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Rockets
  • Space Systems
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Methods
  • Theater Ballistic Missiles
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Readers

  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy