"First Light" anti-missile laser test fired

[Dr Mordrid]

First Light is the name given to the megawatt class COIL laser (Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser) to be mounted in a Boeing 747-400F as part of the US YAL-1a ABL (AirBorn Laser) system.

Northrop-Grumman press release....

YAL-1a article at USAF Tech site

The YAL-1a is a theater defence system that would orbit near a combat zone working in combination with AWACS and other systems. It would get info on a missile launch then target that misslie early in the boost phase, well before any decoys.

YAL-1a is also capable of targeting, prioritizing then attacking multiple lanuches in rapid order.

Northrop-Grumman has also announced that the tactical HELRAM (High Energy Laser for Rocket, Artillery and Mortar) deuterium-fluoride laser system will be ready for deployment within 18 months of the Army giving them the go-ahead.

Tests last August show HELRAM capable of defending against mortar salvo attacks. Previous tests showed it could defend against artillery and rocket salvos.

Dr. Mordrid

[Jon P. Inghram]

With all this technology, they still haven't invented a way to fix typos in thread titles.

[Dr Mordrid]

Thanks, but too late to correct it now.

Typing isn't easy when I have to concentrate hard on the left one to keep it under control. Going for an electromyogram on the 26th to see if it needs surgery #5 to release any nerves from the scar tissue left from surgeries 1-4.

Looks to be a fun day

Dr. Mordrid

[Jon P. Inghram]

Ouch, that sucks if they end up having to dig into it yet again.

As for the topic, I've seen the plane here in Wichita, it's clear aesthetics wern't a primary design concern.

[Sasq]

title tweaked.
good luck with electromyogram.

[Dr Mordrid]

Thanks Sasq. Really not looking forward to being a pin-cushion (for EMG) or cut again.

Back on topic: that thing is a big of an ugly duck alright....kinda reminds me of W. C. Fields with that big honker up front

Dr. Mordrid

[Jammrock]

I had a sudden Akira flashback. I wonder why

[GT98]

Re: "First Light" anti-missile laser test fired

Originally posted by Dr Mordrid


Tests last August showe HELRAM capable of defending against mortar salvo attacks. Previous tests showed it could defend against artillery and rocket salvos.

Dr. Mordrid

I bet we can sell a boat load of these to the Israelis

[Brian Ellis]

And another boatload to the Palestinians!

[Dr Mordrid]

FYI HELRAM was co-developed with the Israelies, so I doubt anyone will be selling them to the Palestinians any time soon

Besides....from the latest reports the Palestinians worst enemy is the Palestinians. Looking like a civil war sooner or later, and I'm betting on sooner.

Dr. Mordrid

[Tjalfe]

so if you dress the incomming missiles in mirrors, how would a laser beam affect it?

[Dr Mordrid]

Harshly. It would require a perfectly smooth surface, and that's hard to maintain in military hardware like a booster. Otherwise the laser will find any imperfection and vaporize it. Another consideration is that the laser will very likely cause a huge shock wave in the slipstream around the booster.

Dr. Morrdir

[Ajax]

I need one of these in my yard to stop the neighbor dog from leaving it's land-mines all over my lawn. The BB gun technique worked for a few days, then the dog learned covert opps tactics. Either that or he lobs them over the fence.

[schmosef]

If things in Iraq stabilize before the next US election, it's not inconceivable that the next President might try for a three-peat by toppling the Islamist regime in Iran. If that happens, Israel will almost certainly need to have strong missile defense in place, like the arrow. And as the "caretakers" of the West Bank, would be responsible to ensure that no missiles falling short into Judea and Samaria would land.

[Wombat]

The more I read about this system, the less impressed I am with it. It's so far away from workable at this point, and even when it's done, it won't work on solid-fuel rockets and a host of other targets.