Video: Airborne Laser Tracks and Engages A Missile in Flight

From Popular Science:

Remember the Airborne Laser (ABL), the jumbo-jet-mounted chemical laser weapon designed to knock hostile missiles out of the air in mid-flight? The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has released a video of this futuristic system in action, tracking and engaging a test missile fired from San Nicolas Island off the California coast. While the video might come off just a bit anti-climactic, with no dramatic explosion to cap off the laser blast, it does prove one key thing: the system, at least if the video is to be believed, actually works.

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My Comment: I have to assume that the video is accurate (even if it was probably taken under controlled conditions) .... if it was not I am sure that critics of the program would be yelling to anyone who would listen right now.

Having said that, I recall how critics were calling this program "mission impossible" 25 years ago. Hmmmm .... 25 years later and billions spent .... I guess nothing is no longer impossible.

Russia And China Condemn U.S. Missile Shield Plan

From Yahoo News:

BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Russia on Friday condemned the United States' plans to set up a missile defense system that Washington says is crucial to protecting the security of it and its allies.

"Both sides believe that creating a global missile defense system, including deploying such systems in certain regions of the world, or plans for such cooperation, do not help support strategic balance and stability, and harm international efforts to control arms and the non-proliferation process," Russia and China said in a joint statement.

"It harms the strengthening of trust between states and regional stability. In this respect (the two sides) express their concern," it said.

The statement was signed in Beijing by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is on a trip to China.

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Previous Post: Must-Watch Video: Inside the Satellite Shoot-Down

Other News Sources on The U.S. Missile Shield
Russian, Chinese leaders denounce US missile defence plans -- Breitbart
Presidents condemn US shield plan -- BBC News
Russia and China condemn U.S. missile shield plan -- Reuters
Czechs to host US missile shield amid public opposition -- Financial Times
U.S. says optimistic on shield deal with Poland -- Reuters
Missile Shield Project Pushing China, Russia Closer Together -- The Third Site
Gorbachev fears new Cold War over US missile shield: report -- AFP
Missile Defense News Updates -- Global Issues Wen News
Joint Japanese and U.S. Missile Shield Test a Success -- Daily Tech

My Comment: Recent successes in the U.S. missile defense program has obviously raised the eyebrows of everyone, including the leaders of China and Russia. To counter these developments, both Russia and China now have two difficult choices to make. Because the SDI program is being established against countries like Iran and North Korea, can both Russia and China pressure their "allies" to pull back the nuclear programs? And if not .... can both Russia and China spend the money to upgrade and modernize their nuclear forces to overcome any established SDI program.

Two choices .... no good answers.

Must-Watch Video: Inside the Satellite Shoot-Down

Hat tip to the Danger Room. A video clip on the success of satellite shoot-down a few months ago.