American laser anti missile program from htpow laser's blog

According to the "Aerospace Daily" reported on July29, the U.S. missile defense agency (MDA) did not give up the interception boost phase ballistic missile by using space based laser weapon, they planto develop a high altitude long endurance UAV.

Since the mid-90s of the 20th century, the US has initiated the airborne burning laser (ABL) program, the kinetic energy interceptor (KEI) plan, network center airborne defense unit NCADE etc. a series designed to boost phase intercept the missile defense plan,ABL program was undoubtedly the most sensual with high-energy laser .

In 1996, the U.S. Department of defense give the ABL project team allocated $1 billion 100 million to develop the experimental set of ABL weapons systems. ABL testing machine YAL-1A improved from Boeing 747-400f aircraft, loaded with the latest development of the airborne laser energy weapon, used to destroy in takeoff boost phase state of tactical ballistic missile, the enemy missile to destroy the enemy airspace and territorial. The ABL aircraft equipped with the system has a megawatt class chemical oxygen iodine laser (coil), infrared tracking / high speed target acquisition system and high precision 5000mw Laser target beam tracing control system.

Although the airborne Attack Laser Pointer program quiet down, but in recent years, the U.S. missile defense agency has been seeking a new generation of airborne lasers which can be carried by the high-altitude uav. The project aims to seek a new way, will be a compact and high efficiency of laser weapons are integrated into the high altitude long endurance UAV will eventually be used to intercept in boost phase ballistic missile. Due to the high altitude long endurance without UAV flight height is very high, so it can avoid the adverse effects of atmospheric environment and the clouds of laser weapons used to the maximum extent.

In 2004, ABL destroyed a ballistic missile successfully. However, after Obama took office, he paid more attention to the development of 300mw Laser Pointer technology. December 2011, the U.S. Department of defense decided to terminate the ABL airborne laser research and development projects. Although the ABL program has been terminated, but through the implementation of the project, the United States in the field of laser technology, energy preparation and beam control were obtained great progress, this is the new airborne laser development has laid a solid foundation.

1. http://www.archilovers.com/stories/15841/the-tactical-high-energy-laser-weapon.html
2. http://www.professionalontheweb.com/p/w/htpow/160336