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A ir B orne L aser

A ir B orne L aser. C/3 Jonathan Kim February 13, 2004. OVERVIEW. History AirBorne Laser (ABL) ABL Laser System Conclusion. HISTORY. Edward Teller, world-renowned expert in thermonuclear energy Envisioned large aircraft armed with high-powered lasers KC-135A originally used

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A ir B orne L aser

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  1. AirBorne Laser C/3 Jonathan Kim February 13, 2004

  2. OVERVIEW • History • AirBorne Laser (ABL) • ABL Laser System • Conclusion

  3. HISTORY • Edward Teller, world-renowned expert in thermonuclear energy • Envisioned large aircraft armed with high-powered lasers • KC-135A originally used • ALL (Airborne Laser Laboratory) • Carbon dioxide dynamic laser • Shot down first target – a towed drone – May 2, 1981 • July 26, 1983 – shot down five sidewinder air-to-air missles • Showed that laser mounted aircraft could be a formidable defensive weapon • Returned in 1984 • Viewed as impractical • Laser was too bulky; was dependent on external power source; did not generate enough power to be effective at extended ranges • After Saddam Hussein started using Scuds at US troops and its allies in Persian Gulf War, concept of air-to-air missile was revitalized • Received $1.1 billion contract for development in 1996 • Boeing 747-400F • Flown to Edwards AFB on December 2002 for installments • Will be fully operational along with seven other aircraft by 2008

  4. ABL YAL-1A

  5. AirBorne Laser (ABL) • Boeing 747-400F • Carries • COIL Laser • Infrared Surveillance • High speed target acquisition system • High precision laser target tracking beam control system • Designed to detect and destroy ballistic missiles in its boost phase of flight immediately after missile is launched • Flies at an altitude of 40,000 ft • Detection of ballistic missiles • First detected by reconnaissance system • Data transferred to ABL • ABL searches and destroys • Able to shoot down 20-40 missiles before having to re-supply hydrogen peroxide

  6. ABL LASER SYSTEM • Killing Laser Beam / Primary Beam (COIL) • Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser • Hydrogen peroxide, potassium chloride, chlorine gas, water • Number of times more powerful than ALL’s gas dynamic laser • Much more compact • Internal source power • Capable of producing lethal beam over long distance • Operates at infrared wavelength of 1.315 microns • Located at rear end of fuselage

  7. ABL LASER SYSTEM • Tracking Illuminating Laser Beams (TILL) • Determines target’s range • Provies initial information about atmosphere • Provides aiming data for primary beam • Beacon Illuminating Laser (BILL) • Provides data of rapidly changing characteristics of the atmosphere along the path of the laser • Gives the laser a “clear” view

  8. OPERATION

  9. CONCLUSION • History • ABL • ABL Laser System

  10. QUESTIONS

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