Boeing has installed a high-energy chemical laser aboard a C-130H aircraft, achieving a key milestone for the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program. Boeing completed the laser installation Dec. 4 at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM The laser, including its major subsystems, 12,000 pounds integrated laser module has been moved up in the aircraft and aligned with the beam above installed control system, which head the laser beam on the target.
With the laser installed, Boeing is set to conduct a series of tests that led to a demonstration in 2008 in which the program will be the laser in-flight fire at the Mission representative ground targets to demonstrate the military utility of lasers high energy. The team will test fire a laser through a rotating turret, which extends through the aircraft's belly.
"The installation of high-energy laser ATL shows that the program continues to make tremendous progress to the warfighter giving a speed of light, precision engagement capabilities that significantly reduces collateral damage" , said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "Next year we are going to fire the laser ground targets, which proves the military utility of this transformation of directed energy weapons."
The program has achieved two other major milestones earlier this year. "Low power" flight tests were completed in June, in Kirtland, aircraft used ATL flight demonstration of hardware and a low power laser, and find the way mobile and fixed ground targets. The demonstration flight hardware includes the control system of the beam; weapon system consoles, which display high-resolution images and allow monitoring goals and sensors.
The low power laser, a substitute for high-energy lasers, has reached its target in each of more than a dozen tests. Also, in late July, the high-energy laser concluded laboratory testing at the Davis Advanced Laser Facility at Kirtland, demonstrating the reliability of operations in more than 50 shots.
ATL, which Boeing is developing for the US Department of Defense, will destroy, damage or disable targets with little or no collateral damage, supporting missions on the battlefield and in urban operations. Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser industry team includes L-3 Communications / Brashear, who made the laser turret, and HYTEC, Inc., which made various structural elements of the weapon system.
With the laser installed, Boeing is set to conduct a series of tests that led to a demonstration in 2008 in which the program will be the laser in-flight fire at the Mission representative ground targets to demonstrate the military utility of lasers high energy. The team will test fire a laser through a rotating turret, which extends through the aircraft's belly.
"The installation of high-energy laser ATL shows that the program continues to make tremendous progress to the warfighter giving a speed of light, precision engagement capabilities that significantly reduces collateral damage" , said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "Next year we are going to fire the laser ground targets, which proves the military utility of this transformation of directed energy weapons."
The program has achieved two other major milestones earlier this year. "Low power" flight tests were completed in June, in Kirtland, aircraft used ATL flight demonstration of hardware and a low power laser, and find the way mobile and fixed ground targets. The demonstration flight hardware includes the control system of the beam; weapon system consoles, which display high-resolution images and allow monitoring goals and sensors.
The low power laser, a substitute for high-energy lasers, has reached its target in each of more than a dozen tests. Also, in late July, the high-energy laser concluded laboratory testing at the Davis Advanced Laser Facility at Kirtland, demonstrating the reliability of operations in more than 50 shots.
ATL, which Boeing is developing for the US Department of Defense, will destroy, damage or disable targets with little or no collateral damage, supporting missions on the battlefield and in urban operations. Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser industry team includes L-3 Communications / Brashear, who made the laser turret, and HYTEC, Inc., which made various structural elements of the weapon system.
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