U.S. Contractor Prepares Missile Defense Laser

Northrop Grumman Corp. announced yesterday that it had taken important steps toward installing a missile defense laser on an aircraft (see GSN, Sept. 5, 2007).

By refurbishing components of the Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser and finishing inspection of the parts, the U.S. defense contractor took a step toward completing the U.S. Airborne Laser, a project to equip a Boeing 747 with a laser capable of destroying an enemy missile during its boost phase.

Reassembly of the megawatt-class laser, now under way at Edwards Air Force Base in California, is expected to continue this year.  Following ground and flight testing, the laser is expected to be tested against a ballistic missile target in 2009.

The company collaborated with Boeing Corp., the Airborne Laser program’s primary contractor, to complete engineering drawings for installing the laser on an aircraft.

“These achievements represent outstanding progress toward providing our nation with a mobile, speed-of-light capability to attack ballistic missiles during their boost phase,” said Alexis Livanos, a vice president for Northrop Grumman and head of the company’s Space Technology division, in a press release (Northrop Grumman release, Jan. 3).

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