Northwest Indiana Discussion

More disillusionment for edge and the Fermilab janitor.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN111 ... arketsNews

U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile

Fri Feb 12, 2010 3:15am EST

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - A U.S. high-powered airborne laser weapon shot down a ballistic missile in the first successful test of a futuristic directed energy weapon, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said on Friday.
The agency said in a statement the test took place at 8:44 p.m. PST (11:44 p.m. EST) on Thursday /0444 GMT on Friday) at Point Mugu's Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division Sea Range off Ventura in central California.
"The Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile" the agency said.
The high-powered Airborne Laser system is being developed by Boeing Co., (BA.N) the prime contractor, and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
Boeing produces the airframe, a modified 747 jumbo jet, while Northrop Grumman (NOC.N) supplies the higher-energy laser and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) is developing the beam and fire control systems.
"This was the first directed energy lethal intercept demonstration against a liquid-fuel boosting ballistic missile target from an airborne platform," the agency added.
The airborne laser weapon successfully underwent its first in-flight test against a target missile back in August. During that test, Boeing said the modified 747-400F aircraft took off from Edwards Air Force Base and used its infrared sensors to find a target missile launched from San Nicolas Island, California.
The plane's battle management system issued engagement and target location instructions to the laser's fire control system, which tracked the target and fired a test laser at the missile. Instruments on the missile verified the system had hit its mark, Boeing said.
The airborne laser weapon is aimed at deterring enemy missile attacks and providing the U.S. military with the ability to engage all classes of ballistic missiles at the speed of light while they are in the boost phase of flight.
"The revolutionary use of directed energy is very attractive for missile defense, with the potential to attack multiple targets at the speed of light, at a range of hundreds of kilometers (miles), and at a low cost per intercept attempt compared to current technologies," the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said.

now wait jack...be fair....he hasn't checked in with the boys down at the VFW yet...

and Dr Vinneboombah...

he hasn't quoted any diaper headed dictators denouncing the U.S.

hell...he hasn't even told you he doesn't read right wing propaganda...

but a soon as his saviour barack hussein obama pulls the plug on it's development he'll be all over it like stink on shhhit saying it will never work...


But it not all bad jack.... we now have full body scanners at the airports courtesy of the messiah!!!!!!....

that will save us!....

/s

mr grape wrote:

You betcha.
Given the fact that the boys at the VFW don't know anymore about missile defense than you or any other right wing moron here, why would I want to check in with them?
I check in with my neighbor.
He's a physicist-engineer at Argonne National Laboratory. He said the Airborne Laser System just might work if the Russians or Chinese give us permission to let the modified 747 fly in their air space & promise they won't shoot it down.

Yes indeed, that sounds like an excellent weapons system well worth spending billions of dollars on it.

yep

Hatemonger540 CAN'T check with the boys at the VFW unless he is invited.

He isn't allowed in there without being escorted by a member.

That makes me LOL.....





Aragonne....? Never heard of it.





hatemonger540's physicist-engineer =

Nothing makes hatemonger540 feel better than the idea that our enemies might get the upper hand on us. It just makes him all warm and fuzzy.

Typical.

A couple of questions for edge:
1. If missile defense is such a stupid, useless, and impossible undertaking, why is your hero Barry Boy still wasting the taxpayers' money by continuing to allow this testing to continue?
2. What does your buddy, the janitor at Argonne, have to say about this?

http://news.yahoo.com/missile-defense-s ... 41635.html

Missile defense system hits 2 targets over Hawaii

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER - Associated Press | AP – 2 hrs 46 mins ago

HONOLULU (AP) — A missile defense system successfully intercepted two different targets at the same time during a test in Hawaii, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said Wednesday.
It was the first time the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System intercepted two ballistic missile targets simultaneously, the agency said. It was designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in their last stage of flight.
The test took place at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai just before 8 p.m. local time Tuesday. It involved dropping one target from an airplane over the ocean and launching a second target from a decommissioned helicopter carrier on the ocean.
The successful test, which was conducted under simulated combat conditions, brings the system a step closer to actual deployment, said Richard Lehner, an agency spokesman in Washington, D.C.
"Since we can expect missile attacks to include more than one missile, it's important that we are able to conduct tests against what we call 'raids,' and that we can exercise the radars and command and control system necessary to thwart such raids under realistic conditions," he said.
It was the first time soldiers participated in a test of the system under those conditions — with limitations for safety — including not knowing what time the exercise would occur, said Cammy Montoya, spokeswoman for the Army Test and Evaluation Command. Previous tests have been conducted during planned times.
The missile defense system is one of two tested at the facility on Kauai's west coast. The other is the sea-based Aegis system.
"THAAD is the only missile defense system that can intercept missile both inside the atmosphere and outside the atmosphere," Lehner said. "Other missile defense technologies do either one or the other."
The Missile Defense Agency coordinates U.S. missile tests in cooperation with the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Officials will review data gathered from the test to evaluate the effectiveness of the system.