WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M., March 11, 2010 - The Airborne Laser Testbed will be used as a pathfinder for the nation's directed energy program following the successful shoot-down of a ballistic missile in its boost phase Feb. 11 in California.
The experiment, conducted at Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division Sea Range off the central California coast, serves as a proof-of-concept demonstration for directed energy technology, according to the Missile Defense Agency.
U.S. Air Force Col. Robert D. McMurry, commander of the Airborne Laser Program, based at Kirtland Air Force Base, said the recent success demonstrated the potential of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles during boost phase. It marked the first ever directed energy lethal intercept against a liquid-fuel boosting ballistic missile target from an airborne platform.
ALTB has the highest-energy laser ever fired from an aircraft, and is the most powerful mobile laser device in the world, according to Boeing.
McMurry said that support from WSMR was invaluable in the recent lethal intercept. He said NAVSEA personnel from WSMR supported the buildup and launch of the Terrier Black Brant missile from San Nicolas Island, Calif. The TBB served as the second target in the flight experiment. On Feb. 11, the ALTB successfully engaged the boosting target with its High Energy Laser, met all its test criteria, and terminated lasing prior to destroying the second target. The ALTB destroyed a solid fuel missile, identical to the second target, in flight on Feb. 3, according to MDA information. NAVSEA personnel also provided weather support. "I cannot overstate my happiness with the quiet professionalism I've seen from this launch team. They were always ready and they always delivered," McMurry said.
Additionally, NAVSEA personnel from WSMR have supported other target launches over the past couple of years, both at WSMR and San Nicolas Island. McMurry said these launches supported acquisition/tracking testing and assessment of target trajectory suitability.
When asked about the importance of intercepting a ballistic missile at the boost-phase, McMurry said that early detection in the boost phase allows for a rapid response and intercept early in its flight. Because the enemy missile is far away from its target and countermeasures have yet to be deployed, he said boost is the most desirable phase in which to engage. However, it is also the most difficult phase, because the intercept "window" is only from one to five minutes. Also, according to information on the MDA website, missile defense interceptors and sensors must be in relatively close proximity to the missile launch.
The recent success of the ALTB did not come without challenges. McMurry said the ALTB is an incredibly complex system. He said that designing and building all of the subsystems, making them work together and installing them on a 747 aircraft presented major technical and management challenges and it was only with the tremendous efforts and teamwork of those involved, that they were able to succeed. He said this was a tremendous team achievement including government (MDA, AFRL, WSMR, and NAWC) and industry (Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin) people who demonstrated extraordinary competence and dedication to their country.
Some challenges still remain when considering its potential application for missile defense technology. McMurry said one advantage of the ALTB is that it doesn't matter much what type of missile they engage, just that they can see it and engage it. Although operating at the speed of light helps "a lot", there are still challenges. The biggest challenge is timeline - the boost phase isn't very long, so ALTB has to process quickly and engage rapidly for any target. Though the ALTB prototype can engage multiple targets with on-board laser fuel, the primary limitations today are driven by range and test safety.
McMurry said that the success of the ALTB is of importance now more than ever because one of the greatest threats facing the world today remains the increasing proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. McMurry said countries invest in ballistic missiles because they are a means to project power both in a regional and strategic context and a capability to launch an attack from a distance. Presently, sophisticated ballistic missile technology is available on a wider scale than ever to countries hostile to the U.S. and our allies. As those countries continue to develop and exchange this technology, there is also an increasing threat of those technologies falling into the hands of hostile non-state groups.
He added that the proliferation of ballistic missiles is increasing the number of anti-access weapons available to potential regional adversaries. These weapons could be used to reduce military options for Combatant Commanders and decrease the survivability of regional military assets.
Adding to the threat is the increase of over 1,200 additional ballistic missiles over the past 5 years. Hundreds of launchers and missiles are currently within the range of our deployed forces today. Although the Department of Defense does not intend to pursue any operational employment of the ALTB, but rather to use this unique testbed to explore the capabilities of high energy laser systems, there is potential.
So far the program's focus has been on shooting down missiles, but McMurry said they are working with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Director, Defense Research and Engineering, to prioritize requirements for additional experiments.
In the meantime, the existing aircraft and program will shift to a technology demonstration effort.
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