The Airborne Laser Test Bed, officially the YAL-1A, was part of a 15-year, multi-billion dollar research program that ultimately shot down a surface-launched missile.
It has now been retired to the Air Force’s Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group near Tucson, Arizona — more commonly known as “the boneyard:” Read more
FoxNews recently reported on the US Navy’s attempts to develop laser-based weapons that might be used for a variety of purposes, including ship and anti-aircraft defense.
Lasers have come a long way in the military already. The US Air Force flys a 747 with a laser in the nose (the “Airborne Laser,” or ABL) that can shoot down ballistic missiles; it doesn’t take much to imagine what else that laser could be pointed at or used for. A laser-equipped C-130 has engaged ground targets to mixed success, and Boeing reportedly used lasers to down small UAVs.
There is still a long way to go, though. According to the article, the development team is attempting to create a full-size prototype by 2018.
Just one question: Will the Navy create it in time to put these laser weapons on the USS Enterprise?