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Subject: Airborne Laser Test Bed Successful in Lethal Intercept Experiment
doggtag    2/12/2010 7:50:27 PM
latest on the ABL program, from the US Missile Defense Agency, link courtesy of Defense-Aerospace.Com: ( http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/112256/airborne-laser-shoots-down-missile-during-boost-phase.html ) Airborne Laser Test Bed Successful in Lethal Intercept Experiment (Source: Missile Defense Agency; issued Feb. 11, 2010) The Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Test Bed (ALTB) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile. The experiment, conducted at Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division Sea Range off the central California coast, serves as a proof-of-concept demonstration for directed energy technology. The ALTB is a pathfinder for the nation's directed energy program and its potential application for missile defense technology. At 8:44 p.m. (PST), February 11, 2010, a short-range threat-representative ballistic missile was launched from an at-sea mobile launch platform. Within seconds, the ALTB used onboard sensors to detect the boosting missile and used a low-energy laser to track the target. The ALTB then fired a second low-energy laser to measure and compensate for atmospheric disturbance. Finally, the ALTB fired its megawatt-class High Energy Laser, heating the boosting ballistic missile to critical structural failure. The entire engagement occurred within two minutes of the target missile launch, while its rocket motors were still thrusting. This was the first directed energy lethal intercept demonstration against a liquid-fuel boosting ballistic missile target from an airborne platform. 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, and at a low cost per intercept attempt compared to current technologies. Less than one hour later, a second solid fuel short-range missile was launched from a ground location on San Nicolas Island, Calif. and the ALTB successfully engaged the boosting target with its High Energy Laser, met all its test criteria, and terminated lasing prior to destroying the second target. The ALTB destroyed a solid fuel missile, identical to the second target, in flight on February 3, 2010. -ends-
 
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Mikko       2/17/2010 10:43:42 AM

http://www.space.com/images/h_abl_cutaway_02.jpg" height="345" width="650" />

 

 

The people who designed the laser, thought about an airship first. Now why did they pick the biggest airliner they could find?  You tell me. Hint: that laser is HEAVY and the lamps are LONG..      
I honestly had no idea on how cramped that 747 gets with the laser.. (no sarcasm).
 
I'll get back to giving nutrition counsel to chihuahuas.
 
Well one more thing. That image doesn't explain possibilities in fitting that hardware in different shapes, it just shows just that it's damn big. My limited grasp on the subject can't come to a conclusion if the system could do a 90 degree turn upwards at one point and direct the beam to a turret on top of the LTA-craft's envelope. You mention long lamps so they are probably the part you don't twist around.
 
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WarNerd       2/18/2010 5:27:59 AM

Operation of the laser.   --    No access

The patent.  --  no mention of nitric acid 

What happens when ammonia hits chlorine, WP? 
Results.   --  Are you sure that you are not confusing Na (sodium) with N (nitrogen) 
 
THAT is why this crap article is so misleading. COILs are incredibly dangerous.    

   No question about that.  At least they have abandoned (I hope) the deuterium-fluoride design.  That idea was not just incredibly dangerous, it was insanely dangerous.


 
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Hamilcar    Warnerd.   2/18/2010 10:45:27 AM
No I'm not confused, WN. I know exactly what the slop left over from the chemistry involved is. Add hydrazine to that mix. 
 
 
Hint, work backwards.
 
H. 
 
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reefdiver       2/20/2010 10:26:38 AM
In spite of the hazardous materials - and would it be that much less hazardous if it were carrying ammunitions... - it does not seem likely that solid state lasers will ever reach megawatt class.  Some desired missions will just not be possible with SSL. COIL and SSL will likely be complementary with different missions.
 
COIL is talking about reaching out at least 200km, with specs requesting 600km.
 
I'm still more interested in knowing just how effective the weapon will be against a wider range of weapons. If you can have this thing covering a 400km-800km diameter area and with reasonable reliability be able to shoot down just about any ballistic missile, SAM, AIM, or cruise missile coming through (in good weather...and this much power may burn a hole in any clouds), thats pretty significant. It will now doubt ultimately be slaved into the network of ground radars, JSTARS, AWACS, etc.
 
I would however envision the COIL on the C-130 ATL system being replaced with a smaller and cheaper SSL, and a still smaller SSL being put on an F-35.   You can then see a system of overlapping protection - much like is done with more conventional weapons. And this will be added to already overlapping layers of defensive and offensive weapons. You just keep closing more gaps.
 
Anyhow, no matter how dangerous it seems, I don't see COIL going away in the long term. 
 
I do have one concern - that it does go away complete because other countries (read: China) see it largely as an anti-satellite weapon.
 
 
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WarNerd       2/22/2010 3:57:29 AM

I know exactly what the slop left over from the chemistry involved is. Add hydrazine to that mix.


I will take your word for it, the information I need to follow you must be in the article that I cannot access.
 
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