News release from the MDA (Missile Defense Agency)

[mutley 4,498]

Raygun-packing 747 to visit DC.

The aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Andrews AFB the evening of June 20, and will make a night landing at the base just outside Washington, D.C. near Landover, Md. On June 21, the aircraft will be available for viewing by senior government officials and news media. It will return to Edwards AFB that evening.

And John will be just the other side of the fence taking exclusive photographs for Mutley's :???:

The Airborne Laser is a modified Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft that will use a high-energy Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) to generate a directed energy beam to intercept and destroy a hostile ballistic missile during the highly-vulnerable “boost phase

[allardjd 1,853]

I hope North Korea and Iran are paying attention...

Of course these would be needed in large numbers and kept on constant patrol. It's not like you could scramble one when someone touches off a ballistic missile.

More likely this is a step on the road of progress toward similar beam weapons that could intercept ballistic missiles later in their trajectory. That would require fewer lasers and allow them to be deployed closer to what's being protected.

This could also throw the advantage back to the cruise missiles, which probably couldn't be engaged by something like this.

Amazing stuff though...

John

[MartinW 0]

Ooohh that's scary Uncle Martin.

Indeed Uncle Mutley! I hadn't heard about it for a while.

I'm waiting for the particle beam that's as big as a pencil, so I can whip it out off my pocket and slice your body parts off. :???:

[ddavid 149]

Better order some more KC-135C's for in-flight re-fuelling - love those birds......

Cheers - Dai. :???: