Posted on 02/12/2010 3:29:37 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
A high-energy laser mounted on a US military aircraft has shot down a ballistic missile in the first successful test of the weapon, the US Missile Defense Agency said on Friday.
The experiment -- evoking a scene out of a science fiction film -- was carried out off the central California coast at Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center at 8:44 pm Thursday Pacific time (0444 GMT), the agency said in a statement.
"The Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile," it said.
The laser, mounted on a turret on the nose of a modified 747 aircraft, is designed to knock out an enemy missile by burning a hole in its side.
The project has been touted as potentially revolutionary, as the lasers are supposed to destroy ballistic missiles just after launch, when the missiles are moving at a slower speed on a predictable path.
The test could provide a boost to the five billion dollar program that has faced technical problems and been scaled back from initial plans that called for building a fleet of seven laser-equipped aircraft.
Last year Defense Secretary Robert Gates cancelled funds for a second prototype aircraft and called for more research to refine the weapon. He said the proposed role for the laser remained "highly questionable" amid questions about its cost and effectiveness.
The proposed defense budget for fiscal 2011 has no specific funding for the airborne laser but includes about 99 million dollars for directed energy research, Missile Defense Agency spokesman Richard Lehner said.
Aerospace giant Boeing is the lead contractor for the program, with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin as partners.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Think Israel would be interested?
Yeah, this is only the beginning. The video of the shootdown is like something out of Buck Rogers. Gives me goosebumps and raises the hair on the back of my neck. If development is allowed to continue on HEL, directed energy weapons will become commonplace. Interesting times.
Wherever he is, Nikola Tesla must be smiling.
It would me much more interesting if the “death ray” was developed
Most Definitely
Babies with laser eyes!
http://babieswithlasereyes.com/
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