The Boeing-led Airborne Laser team exposes the Airborne Laser's conformal window during a test flight. Such an exposure is necessary for the weapon system to complete its mission of shooting down a ballistic missile during the boost phase of flight. Jim Shryne / USAF (Photo from MSNBC)From UPI:
ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The revolutionary Airborne Laser weapon consists of three major subsystems:
-- An oxygen-iodine laser that generates intense light by chemical reaction and then focuses the light into a tight beam that can be delivered against targets hundreds of miles away.
-- A beam control and targeting assembly that aims the beam with extreme precision and compensates for atmospheric distortion to maintain lethal levels of energy over long distances.
-- A battle management suite that detects and tracks hostile missiles, and then coordinates the engagement sequence so that laser energy is deposited on the missiles while they are still in their vulnerable boost phase.
The latter subsystem uses a half-dozen infrared sensors and several low-power lasers to find targets and measure the factors relevant to achieving maximum performance from the larger oxygen-iodine laser.
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My Comment: This program is being publicized because the backers are worried that it will be cut in the next budget process. Everyone knows that the scalpel is out in the Pentagon ... so ... it is now everyone for themselves.