It was always an ambitious plan: Develop the world’s most powerful airborne laser, integrate it on a large airliner and use it to shoot down ballistic missiles at the most opportune time–during the boost phase. Go operational in 2007. But after spending almost $5 billion on the airborne laser (ABL) in 15 years, the MDA redesignated it as the airborne laser test bed (ALTB). However, in February last year the ALTB finally succeeded in destroying two test missiles. The program continues, researching such challenges as jitter from the airborne platform and atmospheric compensation for the laser.
The ALTB fires a megawatt-class chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) from inside a Boeing 747-400F. Two kilowatt-class eliminator lasers are also carried in huge nose turret, to track the ascending target prior to attacking it. The airliner first flew in 2002 and the COIL was first ground-tested in 2004. Boeing is responsible for overall system integration, Northrop Grumman provides the COIL and Lockheed Martin is responsible for the tracking and fire control system.
