21page

MISSION The Airborne Laser (ABL) is a developmental boost-phase element of MDA’s BMDS. Its role will be to defend the United States, its allies, and American forces deployed around the globe by detecting, tracking, and destroying hostile ballistic missiles soon after they are launched. The Airborne Laser will represent the world’s first use of a directed energy airborne weapon system. The Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) system is capable of produc-ing a megawatt-class beam with a range of several hundred kilometers. To ensure the laser beam hits its target with sufficient destructive power, the system uses adaptive optics to compensate for beam distortion caused by atmospheric disturbance. An Airborne Laser engagement begins when one or more of its six infrared sensors detect the heat from the plume of a hostile-launched missile. One laser swings to the com- pass bearing indicated by the sensors and locks on to the missile to provide preliminary tracking data. The aircraft’s onboard computer system processes and refines the data, triggering the firing of a second laser that finds the mis- sile, settles on the aim point for the high-energy laser, and measures the amount of atmospheric disturbance between Airborne laser the aircraft and its target. Finally, the COIL fires to hit the target missile with sufficient energy to heat up its skin, causing it to self-destruct. PrOGrAM DESCrIPTION The ABL program is designing, building and testing an airborne laser system with unique capabilities to provide boost-phase defense against ballistic missile threats by acquiring, tracking and destroying ballistic missiles and to support the multi-tiered BMDS concept. ABL integrates three major subsystems (High Energy Laser [HEL]; Beam Control/Fire Control [BC/FC]; and Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence [BMC4I]) into a modified commercial 747 aircraft. ABL also includes ABL-specific ground support equipment. The program achieved its latest knowledge point on December 31, 2007 when ABL program manag- ers concluded the aircraft and support system are ready for High Power System Integration. The next planned knowl- edge point will involve the passage of the first light into Laser Calorimeter through the BC/FC. The first system- level Lethal Demonstration Flight is set for 2009. CONTrIBUTIONS TO THE BMDS When fielded, the ABL will be the first line of defense in the BMDS. The primary mission of ABL is to destroy hostile missiles during their boost phase of flight before they can deploy countermeasures or multiple re-entry vehicles. This significantly increases the overall capability of the BMDS by reducing the number of targets faced by the other BMDS elements. ABL will also provide threat protec- tion and enhance the performance of the other elements by providing early ballistic missile launch warning, launch and impact point prediction, and cueing to other BMDS elements via Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC). Additionally, ABL’s ability to detect launches and their launch points will increase the probability of successful counterstrikes against aggressor missile launchers. 2007 ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Completed refurbishment of the Optical Diagnosis Sub- system in preparation for installation onto the aircraft • Completed aircraft structural modifications in prepara- tion for the COIL installation • Completed installation and ground testing of the two illuminator lasers– Tracking Illuminator and Beacon Illuminator • Demonstrated ability to deliver scaled lethal laser fluence on target – Successfully demonstrated first-ever active tracking of target and atmospheric compensa-tion between non-cooperative aerial platforms – Successfully tracked vertically dynamic target – Began COIL installation Majority of work for Airborne laser is performed in the green colored states.