Airborne Laser (ABL) ready for flight testing

SUBMAN1 · 10-31-06, 05:10 PM

Its about time they roll this damn thing out!

When I worked on this project way back when, they had a little problem with the gas released after firing the laser. Apparently it was so hot, it would melt the rear elevator off if they fired it! I guess they fixed that little annoyance.

-S

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...cle1938371.ece

Onkel Neal · 10-31-06, 05:13 PM

Yeah, baby!

SUBMAN1 · 10-31-06, 05:21 PM

An Overview of the aircraft can be found here:

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/abl/

-S

ASWnut101 · 10-31-06, 06:24 PM

Its been out and in final prototype phase for awile.......

SUBMAN1 · 10-31-06, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASWnut101

Its been out and in final prototype phase for awile.......

Yeah, but its never been cleared for FLight test before!

-S

ASWnut101 · 10-31-06, 06:36 PM

So?

real men don't need "flight tests":p

SUBMAN1 · 10-31-06, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASWnut101

So?

real men don't need "flight tests":p

Fine by me! But after we paid billion on Dev, I think I'll opt for a flight test! :p

-S

tycho102 · 11-01-06, 02:39 PM

Well, I couldn't read the article, but I remember reading about these things a decade or so ago.

They fire a couple blasts from a kilowatt laser to measure the atmostphere between the plane and the target. Air temperature, wind speed, particulate matter -- everything scatters the laser and reduces it's effective range. Then the main laser fires. I guess the thing ionizes some of the air around it, causing turbulance around the aircraft as it passes over the disturbed air. So the plane can only fire a pair of shots within something like 250ms, and then it has to wait something like 20 seconds before the platform is stable enough to shoot again.

It's a good idea for a mobile defense platform, but because there's a effective arc that the laser cannot target outside of, it's got severe limitations.

I think the ground based ones will be more effective, with the planes supplementing them.

Oberon · 11-01-06, 04:32 PM

Arkbird....very nice....

ASWnut101 · 11-01-06, 05:20 PM

I wonder if they can rig it to fire at people.....:hmm:

SUBMAN1 · 11-01-06, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASWnut101

I wonder if they can rig it to fire at people.....:hmm:

Like - were did that guy go? He was just here? Whats that smell too?

-S

ASWnut101 · 11-01-06, 08:39 PM

yes, like that

snowsub · 11-01-06, 10:45 PM

Wonder how heavy that sucker would be :hmm:

I'm assuming it must have a lot of electrical motors & generators to power it

bookworm_020 · 11-02-06, 12:22 AM

The plane would all be at risk as it would have to fly close to the launch site, if you know where the launch site is going to be!

Wim Libaers · 11-02-06, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowsub

Wonder how heavy that sucker would be :hmm:

I'm assuming it must have a lot of electrical motors & generators to power it

Probably not. It's a chemical laser for the main beam, so it shouldn't need excessive amounts of power. Does require lots of corrosive chemicals though.

10-31-06, 05:10 PM	#1
SUBMAN1 Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11,866 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Airborne Laser (ABL) ready for flight testing Its about time they roll this damn thing out! When I worked on this project way back when, they had a little problem with the gas released after firing the laser. Apparently it was so hot, it would melt the rear elevator off if they fired it! I guess they fixed that little annoyance. -S http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...cle1938371.ece __________________ Last edited by SUBMAN1; 10-31-06 at 05:13 PM.

10-31-06, 05:21 PM	#3
SUBMAN1 Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11,866 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	An Overview of the aircraft can be found here: http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/abl/ -S __________________

10-31-06, 06:24 PM	#4
ASWnut101 Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,021 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Its been out and in final prototype phase for awile....... __________________

10-31-06, 06:36 PM	#6
ASWnut101 Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,021 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	So? real men don't need "flight tests":p __________________

11-01-06, 02:39 PM	#8
tycho102 Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,100 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Well, I couldn't read the article, but I remember reading about these things a decade or so ago. They fire a couple blasts from a kilowatt laser to measure the atmostphere between the plane and the target. Air temperature, wind speed, particulate matter -- everything scatters the laser and reduces it's effective range. Then the main laser fires. I guess the thing ionizes some of the air around it, causing turbulance around the aircraft as it passes over the disturbed air. So the plane can only fire a pair of shots within something like 250ms, and then it has to wait something like 20 seconds before the platform is stable enough to shoot again. It's a good idea for a mobile defense platform, but because there's a effective arc that the laser cannot target outside of, it's got severe limitations. I think the ground based ones will be more effective, with the planes supplementing them. __________________ My little Silent Hunter 4 repository

10-31-06, 05:13 PM	#2
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,385 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Yeah, baby!

11-01-06, 04:32 PM	#9
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Arkbird....very nice....

11-01-06, 05:20 PM	#10
ASWnut101 Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,021 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	I wonder if they can rig it to fire at people.....:hmm: __________________

11-01-06, 08:39 PM	#12
ASWnut101 Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,021 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	yes, like that __________________

11-01-06, 10:45 PM	#13
snowsub 中国水兵 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Moreton bay Posts: 286 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Wonder how heavy that sucker would be :hmm: I'm assuming it must have a lot of electrical motors & generators to power it __________________

11-02-06, 12:22 AM	#14
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The plane would all be at risk as it would have to fly close to the launch site, if you know where the launch site is going to be! __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"