Airborne Laser Capability Development
Abstract
The Airborne Laser Test Bed`s (ALTB) revolutionary speed-of-light technology makes it a pathfinder for future directed energy weapon systems. The ALTB program is testing an airborne laser system with unique capabilities to defend against ballistic missile threats by acquiring, tracking, and destroying ballistic missiles. The high-powered laser has been fired over 100 times on the ground and was installed on the ALTB aircraft in FY 2008. The ALTB has demonstrated precision tracking and atmospheric beam compensation during flight over 2 dozen times in FY 2007 and 2009 -- including successful tracking against two boosting missiles in June 2009 and engagement against a low-power Missile Alternative Range Target Instrument (MARTI) boosting missile test asset in August 2009. The first high-powered lasing external to the aircraft in flight occurred in December 2009, with the first shoot down against a short-range liquid fueled foreign acquired target completed in February 2010. Engagement range for the ALTB is dependent upon track illumination, atmospheric compensation, laser power and missile type. After the initial shoot down demonstration, ALTB completed another successful flight experiment with a High Powered Missile Alternative Range Target Instrument (MARTI) at extended range. The ALTB tested against missiles in flight at greater ranges and on the ground against countermeasures to characterize the ALTB throughout the remainder of FY 2010. Current Program Knowledge Points (KPs) are: -Demonstrate High Energy Laser (HEL) performance Internal/External on the Aircraft in Flight (KP#9) - This KP demonstrated functionality of the optical system with the HEL on the aircraft in flight (completed Dec 09) -Engagement against a High Power Missile Alternative Range Target Instrument (MARTI) (KP#10) - This KP validated and characterized High Power (using the High Energy Laser) ALTB performance against boosting targets (completed Jan 10) -ALTB Technology Demonstrator lethal demonstration (KP #11) - This KP demonstrated ALTB capability to negate a threat representative boosting ballistic missile (completed Feb 10) Following the ALTB Technology Demonstrator lethal demonstration, additional lethal demonstration events were conducted to further evaluate geometries and/or ranges of the current ALTB configuration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- WX19_0603883C_4_0400_PB_2012
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- Root: Ballistic Missile Defense Boost Defense Segment
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