The Airborne Laser (ABL) missile defense system has moved to a new phase, with the high-energy laser undergoing testing with chemical fuel, The Boeing Co. [BA] announced today. That high-energy laser has been installed on the aircraft, after refurbishment off-board. ABL involves prime contractor Boeing contributing a heavily-modified 747-400 jumbo jet as the platform, and the battle management system. Northrop Grumman Corp. [NOC] provides the laser system, and Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] makes the beam control/fire control system. Testing will…
Recommended
Trending
Congress Updates
Senior GOP HASC Members Wittman, Turner Ousted Amid Dems’ Blue Wave
Two senior Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee, including a potential frontrunner for the panel’s top GOP role, have officially lost their reelection bids. Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and […]
Dems’ Big Night Set To Reshape Top Defense Committee Spots, As Key GOP’ers Knocked Off
Democrats’ sweeping victories in Tuesday’s midterms, taking back control of the House and Senate, are set to reshape key spots atop defense committees, to include House Armed Services panels and […]
Key Defense Committee Members Face Tight Midterm Races, Including HASC GOP’ers In Virginia
As the mid-term elections near with polls showing an increasing likelihood of a switch in majority control in the House and potentially the Senate, three Virginia Republicans on the House […]
‘Theoretical Potential’ to Achieve 1,509 Combat-Coded Fighters by 2035, USAF Says
In the latest U.S. Air Force fighter force structure report submitted to Congress, the service speaks of a “theoretical potential” to achieve a goal of 1,509 combat-coded fighters in the […]