Replies

Was at the air show at Kirtland AFB this past weekend. They had some booths displaying some of our newer technology.

Two booths made reference to the ABL. One showed how we are developing relays to allow us to shoot further than line of sight. The other booth was about the jet itself.

At the first booth the guy got real wide-eyed when I told my son that the enemy couldn't stop the lasers with mirrors because they are concentrated onto the target and would burn through the mirrored surface. He almost lost it when I said that these reflecting technologies (satellites, ground-based, and blimp-based) would be used to not only hit targets out of the usual line of sight, but also could combine several targeting lasers and increase the damage done. This was a best guess based on stuff I had read (Pop Sci, Scientific American, Jane's, etc.). The booth dude glared but had no comment.

The guys in the second booth were in a much more talkative mood. They told us about the high volatile chemicals on the jet that can only be replaced on the ground. When I asked if the plane was operational enough to help with the North Korean threat, they looked at each other, smirked, and one of them said, "No sir, it isn't flying yet."

The look and smirk said to me "Are you gonna give the company line or am I?"

I have the feeling things are much further along then we are led to believe. I also think it is highly probable that the malfunction of the North Korean missile wasn't an accident.