Lockheed Martin Delivers Airborne Laser Component

U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin announced yesterday the delivery of the flight turret assembly for the Airborne Laser system, intended to be used in U.S. missile defense efforts (see GSN, Aug. 20).

The component will make up the “nose” of the modified Boeing 747 used to house the ABL system that would fire a laser to shoot down enemy ballistic missiles shortly after they are launched, according to a Lockheed Martin press release. The flight turret assembly has been shipped to Edwards Air Force Base in California for integration into the ABL system.

“Integration and delivery of the FTA — the third major element of our Beam Control/Fire Control segment of ABL — marks a major milestone for both the program and our team,” said Paul Shattuck, ABL technical director for Lockheed Martin Space Systems (Lockheed Martin release, Nov. 3).

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