Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Successfully Engages Ground Target in Flight Test -- Def Pro News
September 1, 2009 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. | The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force on Aug. 30 defeated a ground target from the air with the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) aircraft, demonstrating ATL's first air-to-ground, high-power laser engagement of a tactically representative target.
During the test, the C-130H aircraft took off from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., and fired its high-power chemical laser through its beam control system while flying over White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The beam control system acquired the ground target -- an unoccupied stationary vehicle -- and guided the laser beam to the target, as directed by ATL's battle management system. The laser beam's energy defeated the vehicle.
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More News On This Test
Boeing’s New Death Beam Zaps Vehicle -- The Danger Room
Boeing destroys ground target with laser weapon -- Examiner
Secret US spontaneous human combustion beam tested -- The Register
Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser aircraft kills ground vehicle -- Seattle PI
Airborne Laser Zaps Ground Target -- Weekly Standard
My Comment: When I first heard about this test on Sunday, I just posted the news in my regular 6:00 AM posting on Military and Intelligence News Updates. It only hit me this afternoon that this is very big news. It indicates to me that a number of technical and engineering problems have been solved, and that testing can now go full forward.
The only question that comes to my mind now is .... will they (in a time of deep budget deficits) receive the funding for it?
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