The U.S. Missile Defense Agency announced successful use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile during a Friday test.
According to the Agency, this was the “first directed energy lethal intercept demonstration against a liquid-fuel boosting ballistic missile target from an airborne platform.”
The ALTB is being chiefly designed by Boeing, but has components from numerous defense companies. Boeing produces the airframe from a 747 jumbo jet, with Northrop Grumman supplying the higher-energy laser and Lockheed Martin developing the beam and fire control systems.
Read more at Reuters.
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