Development programs for this started as part of the original Reagan Strategic Defense Initiative, nicknamed “Star Wars”. In spite of rabid criticism from the usual claque of progressive scientific and political activists who declared the task to be an impossibility, the results are bearing fruit: A prototype airborne battle laser system that shoots down ICBM’s? You betcha!
U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile
A U.S. high-powered airborne laser weapon shot down a ballistic missile in the first successful test of a futuristic directed energy weapon, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said on Friday.
The agency said in a statement the test took place at 8:44 p.m. PST (11:44 p.m. EST) on Thursday /0444 GMT on Friday) at Point Mugu’s Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division Sea Range off Ventura in central California.
“The Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile” the agency said.
What does this system actually do?
The airborne laser weapon is aimed at deterring enemy missile attacks and providing the U.S. military with the ability to engage all classes of ballistic missiles at the speed of light while they are in the boost phase of flight.
“The revolutionary use of directed energy is very attractive for missile defense, with the potential to attack multiple targets at the speed of light, at a range of hundreds of kilometers (miles), and at a low cost per intercept attempt compared to current technologies,” the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said.
Nothing succeeds like success!
now all they have to do is give it a pratical test, or will it be like the Sgt York DIVOD.
Ahhh, I remember all the fuss about the “Star Wars” system. As a child, it sounded so cool to have a huge lazer in the sky, protecting us all!
This was featured on the Discovery Channel recently, IIRC
Yea right Ron like that will EVER happen and we actually hear about it.