U.S. Plans:  Laser Aircraft to Continue Tests

Program technicians for the Airborne Laser — a component of the developing U.S. missile defense system — plan to continue test-flying the modified Boeing 747 designed to house the laser, program officials said Wednesday (see GSN, July 19).

The aircraft, which will be equipped with the laser later, has successfully completed four test flights since July 18, according to Defense Daily.  Developers have been conducting the flights to evaluate the airplane’s performance and other checks to evaluate the functionality of its systems.

The airplane flew to Boeing facilities Friday to be painted, a program official said, and it is scheduled to fly to Edwards Air Force Base in California for ground tests once painting is finished.  Technicians at the base plan to install the airplane’s tracking systems and the laser system, according to Defense Daily.

Officials expect future flights for the 747 to test how its systems detect and track missile launches, Defense Daily reported.  Developers will not test-fire the laser to shoot down a target until at least the end of 2004, according to Defense Daily.

The Defense Department is also examining other possible options — including different platforms — for laser systems in the future, said Air Force Col. Ellen Pawlikowski, Airborne Laser program director at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.  For example, aircraft such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter might be used to carry laser systems, she said (Kerry Gildea, Defense Daily, Aug. 8).

For further information, see:

MDA Basics of Missile Defense

MDA Missile Defense System

MDA Boost Defense Segment

Airborne Laser Fact Sheet

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