Just a reference of the term Laser and we start thinking of Star Wars. But Laser weapons will no longer be limited to science fiction, thanks to the Pentagon. With the threat of ICBM’s and long range missiles on a constant rise the Airborne Laser looks like a blessing in disguise. A modified Boeing 747-400F is fitted with a megawatt class Laser designed to knock out enemy missiles. The lift off stage is most critical for the ICBM as it is very vunerable at that point because after that there is no stopping it. The Airborne Laser is designed is hit enemy missiles at the lift off stage. As it may sound impressive it has it’s drawbacks too an ICBM is fired usually thousands of miles away from enemy soil so the 747 has to be flying over enemy airspace with constant threat of anti air missiles and enemy fighters as it is the 747 is a passenger jet with limited manuvarability. Maybe they will soon fit a B2 bomber with a laser.

Work on the ABL Beam Control/Fire Control subsystem is taking place at Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, Calif. Here, a space systems engineer inspects the Turret Ball Conformal Window through which the laser beams will pass.
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