By Ann Roosevelt The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Feb. 11 successfully demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) destroyed a boosting ballistic missile. The successful shoot-down comes eight years after the scheduled 2002 Airborne Laser, now ALTB, interception flight test. That same schedule called for three operational ABL aircraft in 2004, with another four operational by 2006 (Defense Daily, May 13, 1996, Jan. 15, 1997). "This was the first…
ALTB Successful In First Lethal Ballistic Missile Intercept
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