Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

data for: U.S. airborne laser combat simulation Figure

22 U.S. Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency announced that due to technical problems, once again postponed the modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft for the high-energy laser weapons, missile intercept test.

this laser weapons designed to permit large-scale conversion aircraft carriers, air high-energy laser beam to the ballistic missile launch, to intercept the blow.

another day trial

Missile Defense Agency, scheduled for 22 coastal California morning in the implementation of the test. Day, the agency issued a statement on its website that a new trial date is expected next week day.

statement said maintenance team found the plane in a thermal shunt valve abnormal state may affect the normal cooling, the team is to find the cause.

goal of this test is to use laser weapons on the Boeing aircraft to 100 miles (160 kilometers) outside of an imaginary enemy side are flying high-energy laser beam ballistic missile launch, and its destruction.

February 11, Missile Defense Agency completed the first interception of airborne high-energy laser weapons, missile tests, when the distance is 50 miles (80 km), hit by a laser weapon in the sky phase of the short-range missiles.

four delay

first trial is successful, so further investment in research and development of laser weapon system that calls for renewed. Missile Defense Agency plans earlier this month re-test the laser interceptor missiles, doubling the target distance.

the past three weeks, the agency has delayed testing three times, 22 is the fourth postponement. The first was a problem because the target missile stand, the second is the tracking system due to software failure, the third is a camera tracking system cooling system problems cause the system to restart.

Missile Defense Agency Secretary, Lieutenant General Patrick Riley said the Austrian, the first two tests of delayed, reflecting the security concerns and the limited available to test the target missile.

airborne anti-missile laser weapon project earlier, the U.S. missile defense system is a part, but the development process slow, costly, cost overruns, there is a dispute. U.S. Department of Defense Robert Gates last year to reduce the project costs.

joint research and development

1996, the U.S. military signed a contract with the Boeing Company, Boeing commissioned the development of aircraft equipped with laser weapons, or “air laser” ( ABL) project.

2007 end of August, the Missile Defense Agency announced that the Airborne Laser completed low-power phase of testing. “Air laser” project into the next development stage, the Boeing aircraft with high-energy laser weapons.

airborne high energy laser weapon system consists of several major arms manufacturer, Boeing, Northrop – Grumman and Lockheed – Martin joint research and development.

provide modified Boeing 747-400 Boeing jet as a weapon carrier, responsible for operational command, co-ordinating a global, Northrop – Grumman to provide one million watts-level high-energy laser, Lockheed – Martin is responsible for electronic and beam control system.

laser weapon system mounted on Boeing aircraft, the nose, to detect the target missile, firing high-energy laser beam, laser heating, melting the missile casing, causing the missile can not afford high-speed flight stress and damage.

February, Boeing said the success “of the next generation of high-energy, ultra-precision weapons illuminate a new path.” Some experts point out that such weapons will be used for any local fighters, cruise missiles and even near-Earth orbit satellites.