Airborne Laser testing progresses

Bill Nichols · 02-11-10, 04:57 PM

Check out the video from this recent test of the Airborne Laser (ABL) missile defense system:

The 747 ABL aircraft is on the right side of the screen, engaging a ballistic missile ascending from the left.

Expect more exciting news in the near future!

Letum · 02-11-10, 05:19 PM

What is the power plant?
I take it this isn't running from the engine's generators.

The fact that you can see the laser beam in thin air says a lot about it's efficiency over range.

Bill Nichols · 02-11-10, 05:34 PM

It's a megawatt-class chemical laser.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/abl/

NeonSamurai · 02-11-10, 06:05 PM

I am not sure if you could actually see that test (or the real weapon) in thin air, that was a thermal camera recording of the test as far as I could tell. To see it with the naked eye it would have to be emitting light at a visible spectrum, and have particles refracting some of that light along the beam. Also they used a high energy low power beam for the test. It looked like the laser was tracking very smoothly though which is critical for the system to work as intended.

Letum · 02-11-10, 06:35 PM

I meant that you could see the infra red trace in the air.

That means it must be heating up the air and by quite a lot.
I would not be surprised if the majority of the output goes into heating thin air.

krashkart · 02-11-10, 08:30 PM

I haven't the vaguest idea of how lasers work, but have always kept that project in mind ever since I heard of its inception. Really hope the government will keep funding it through to the final bill of sale.

Just as a side note, how's the Navy's rail gun experiment going? I'll have to look around.

EDIT: That beam does indeed track smooth as a baby's behind. It targets the propellant mass, does it not?

TteFAboB · 02-12-10, 10:00 AM

I'm not impressed until the beams travel below the speed of light and in short bursts, like in Star Wars, like flying colored office lamps. That's an impressive technology: a colored office lamp canon!

Bill Nichols · 02-12-10, 07:28 PM

Video of last night's shootdown has just been released by the Missile Defense Agency. Get it here:

http://www.mda.mil/global/videos/abl..._11_feb_10.wmv

More info and photos here:

http://www.mda.mil/news/gallery_altb.html

Letum · 02-12-10, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TteFAboB

I'm not impressed until the beams travel below the speed of light and in short bursts, like in Star Wars, like flying colored office lamps. That's an impressive technology: a colored office lamp canon!

The beam is traveling below light speed.
Points to anyone who knows why.

razark · 02-12-10, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letum

The beam is traveling below light speed.
Points to anyone who knows why.

Because it's traveling through atmosphere, and not a vacuum?

Platapus · 02-12-10, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letum

The beam is traveling below light speed.
Points to anyone who knows why.

no the beam is traveling the speed of light, it is just traveling at the speed of light through the specific medium (the atmosphere). Laser "beams" always travel at the speed of light, just that the speed of light changes.

Now you are correct that the laser "beam" traveling through the atmosphere is traveling slower than what we think is the maximum speed of light (Speed of light in a vacuum)

d@rk51d3 · 02-12-10, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TteFAboB

I'm not impressed until the beams travel below the speed of light and in short bursts, like in Star Wars, like flying colored office lamps. That's an impressive technology: a colored office lamp canon!

.......... and make a really cool "pew pew" sound.

02-11-10, 04:57 PM	#1
Bill Nichols Master of Defense Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,502 Downloads: 125 Uploads: 0	Airborne Laser testing progresses Check out the video from this recent test of the Airborne Laser (ABL) missile defense system: The 747 ABL aircraft is on the right side of the screen, engaging a ballistic missile ascending from the left. Expect more exciting news in the near future! __________________ My Dangerous Waters website: Last edited by Bill Nichols; 02-11-10 at 05:17 PM.

02-11-10, 05:19 PM	#2
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	What is the power plant? I take it this isn't running from the engine's generators. The fact that you can see the laser beam in thin air says a lot about it's efficiency over range. __________________

02-11-10, 05:34 PM	#3
Bill Nichols Master of Defense Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,502 Downloads: 125 Uploads: 0	It's a megawatt-class chemical laser. http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/abl/ __________________ My Dangerous Waters website:

02-11-10, 06:05 PM	#4
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	I am not sure if you could actually see that test (or the real weapon) in thin air, that was a thermal camera recording of the test as far as I could tell. To see it with the naked eye it would have to be emitting light at a visible spectrum, and have particles refracting some of that light along the beam. Also they used a high energy low power beam for the test. It looked like the laser was tracking very smoothly though which is critical for the system to work as intended. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

02-11-10, 06:35 PM	#5
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I meant that you could see the infra red trace in the air. That means it must be heating up the air and by quite a lot. I would not be surprised if the majority of the output goes into heating thin air. __________________

02-11-10, 08:30 PM	#6
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	I haven't the vaguest idea of how lasers work, but have always kept that project in mind ever since I heard of its inception. Really hope the government will keep funding it through to the final bill of sale. Just as a side note, how's the Navy's rail gun experiment going? I'll have to look around. EDIT: That beam does indeed track smooth as a baby's behind. It targets the propellant mass, does it not? __________________ sent from my fingertips using a cheap keyboard

02-12-10, 10:00 AM	#7
TteFAboB Admiral Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,247 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I'm not impressed until the beams travel below the speed of light and in short bursts, like in Star Wars, like flying colored office lamps. That's an impressive technology: a colored office lamp canon! __________________ "Tout ce qui est exagéré est insignifiant." ("All that is exaggerated is insignificant.") - Talleyrand

02-12-10, 07:28 PM	#8
Bill Nichols Master of Defense Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,502 Downloads: 125 Uploads: 0	Video of last night's shootdown has just been released by the Missile Defense Agency. Get it here: http://www.mda.mil/global/videos/abl..._11_feb_10.wmv More info and photos here: http://www.mda.mil/news/gallery_altb.html __________________ My Dangerous Waters website: