Global Security Newswire

Continued technical troubles have forced the U.S. Missile Defense Agency to again postpone a test of the Airborne Laser system's ability to destroy enemy missiles. Another test date has yet to be set (see GSN, Aug. 23).

The test was "delayed because of unsuccessful tracking beam calibration engagements by the [Airborne Laser Test Bed] against an airborne diagnostic aircraft (surrogate target). The calibrations must be successfully completed prior to firing the aircraft's main directed energy beam," the agency said in a press release.

The target missile was not fired. This is the fifth delay to the planned test. A Feb. 11 test of the missile defense technology successfully destroyed the target (U.S. Missile Defense Agency release, Aug. 24).