U.S. Plans:  Defense Officials Develop Plan to Use Airborne Laser

U.S. Air Combat Command officials have completed a preliminary plan for how to use the Airborne Laser missile defense system in combat once it is fully developed, Inside Missile Defense reported today (see GSN, July 15).

The plan remains tentative, however, because the Defense Department has not determined how many ABL aircraft will be built, according to Lt. Col. Rick Nefzger, the chief of the system’s special management organization at Air Combat Command.

The laser system is a Boeing 747-400 aircraft that will operate with four lasers designed to shoot down an enemy missile in its boost phase.  The Missile Defense Agency is set to spend $3.5 billion on the program between fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2009.

“The original idea was seven aircraft,” Nefzger said.  “But right now I don’t know how many aircraft we are going to get because no one has told me what they really want us to do.  Do you want one orbit?  Do you want two orbits?  Do you want one 24-hour orbit or do you want two 24-hour orbits?” he asked (Thomas Duffy, Inside Missile Defense I, July 23).

Contingency Plan Involves Chemical Dump

Officials at Edwards Air Force base in California, where the system will be tested, are considering ejecting dangerous chemicals from the laser system if the plane’s landing is jeopardized.

“During nominal test conditions the ABL system will launch out of Edwards, perform flight tests and return to base with remaining chemicals onboard,” base officials said.  “However, if an in-flight emergency arose that required jettison of chemicals in order to avoid a safety incident, the ABL would do so prior to landing at a divert base other than Edwards,” they added.

The chemicals would be dumped over the California desert, Inside Missile Defense reported (Thomas Duffy, Inside Missile Defense II, July 23).

Back to top

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP