Boeing [BA] and the Air Force anno8unced yesterday that on Sept. 19 their Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) aircraft damaged a moving ground vehicle, completing ATL’s first air-to-ground, high-power laser engagement of a mobile target.
During the test, the C-130H aircraft took off from Kirtland AFB, N.M., and fired a high-power chemical laser through its beam control system while flying over White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
The beam control system guided the laser beam’s energy to the unoccupied, remotely controlled target, striking the vehicle and putting a hole in a fender, the company said yesterday in a statement. The test demonstrated the ability to aim and fire a high-energy laser beam at a moving target.
“In this test, a directed energy weapon successfully demonstrated direct attack on a moving target,” Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems’ Directed Energy Systems unit, said. “ATL has now precisely targeted and engaged both stationary and moving targets, demonstrating the transformational versatility of this speed-of-light, ultra-precision engagement capability that will dramatically reduce collateral damage.”
The test occurred less than three weeks after an Aug. 30 test in which ATL damaged an unoccupied stationary vehicle, marking the aircraft’s first air-to-ground, high-power laser engagement of a tactically representative target.
Boeing developed ATL for the Air Force.
ATL demonstrations support the development of laser defense systems that will destroy, damage or disable targets on the battlefield and in urban operations with little to no collateral damage.
The Boeing-led ATL industry team includes L-3 Communications/Brashear [LLL], which built the laser turret; HYTEC Inc., which made a variety of the weapon system’s structural elements; and J.B. Henderson, which provides mechanical integration support.