U.S. 'Star Wars' laser plane successfully shoots down ballistic missile for first time

Mail Foreign Service ^ | 12:09 PM on 13th February 2010 | Mail Foreign Service

[Woodman]

I'll give you the correct answer. The target would undergo a mechanical/structural failure, break into pieces and fall back to earth. What would be left of those pieces after they hit the ground is anybody’s guess. The laser itself is not designed to melt or obliterate a target, just heat it up very quickly causing the failure.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

“Nice to see that our military has a response to Iran’s announcement even though our dear leader does not.”

Agreed. But of course the problematic nuke will surely be delivered on foot.

[Mygirlsmom]

Please, don’t anyone tell Obama about this!

[cmj328]

A 10kt nuclear bomb going off at 400 mi. altitude over CONUS is in fact the end of the world, or a close approximation.

Best to kill these things as they begin their ascent, if you can.

[Zeppo]

This strengthens the hand of the United States President. Too bad the current President is too weak to see it that way.

Maybe this test was aimed at sending a message to America's enemies in the White House, instead of America's enemies in the rest of the world...

[screaminsunshine]

Obama will cancel this program to level the playing field.

[Sender]

Does it really work? Most definitely. The only question is how close the plane must be to the missile to heat it sufficiently, and of course weather and atmospheric conditions factor in. The key for any laser weapon is in maintaining a coherent beam on the same spot on the missile skin for long enough to heat it up. That becomes progressively more difficult the further the laser is from the missile, and of course the beam deteriorates with distance as well.

[Hulka]

He has, with his FY11 budget submission he cancelled further funding of the ABL program. The test phase is near the end and when over, it is over.

I guess The Messiah will just turn his face up to the heavens and his mere radiating presence will deflect incoming missiles.

[screaminsunshine]

He will level us with Cuba and Venezuela. The man is a complete disaster for the USA.

[neodad]

Add this to the satellite shoot-down from the cruiser, and wow!

[DrC]

I’ve seen a lot of forgettable movies in my lifetime, but watching Goldfinger’s laser come so close to taking out 007’s “missile” will be etched in my memory forever.

[matginzac]

WooHoo! Reagan’s legacy at work - too bad this has been publicized - now Obambi will want to cut it to “reduce the deficit”...

[Wiz]

USA! USA! USA! USA!

[matginzac]

Bingo...

[Wiz]

Video clips are here.

[Wiz]

Is that Osama Bin Laden’s home lol

[jmcenanly]

Now if we can get this guy out of the White House,

[CIB-173RDABN]

The laser defense adds one more variable to the equation, do I or do I not launch missiles towards the United States.

The balance of power has just shifted ever so slightly once again in favor of the US.

[Hulka]

If it remains as a program and is fielded, and right now, The Messiah cancelled the program (with Gates’ approval).

We simply can’t go around protecting the USA from nukes, now can we.

[Yardstick]

Maybe this test was aimed at sending a message to America's enemies in the White House, instead of America's enemies in the rest of the world...

This news would definitely bring political pressure on the White House not to cut the program, so maybe that's part of it.

I wonder at what level the release of information like this has to be approved?