Boeing yal-1

An airborne laser ABL is a laser system operated from a flying platform, as in the:. Of note is that the ALL demonstrated one of the early uses of deformable mirror technology, boeing yal-1. To compensate for various atmospheric aberrations arising from turbulence and absorption of energy from the beam itself, it was necessary to modify the wavefront of the beam after it emerged from the laser resonator in order boeing yal-1 ensure it would arrive at the target as a tightly focused spot. The ABL was mounted on a modified Boeing

Exactly 20 years ago today, a modified Boeing F took its first flight. The only difference? The US military started the airborne laser program ABL in , but an experimental prototype was already tested more than a decade ago. However, the project was not pursued any further despite the testbed providing impressive results. Interest in the program reignited when the Soviet Union began developing advanced Scud missiles during the Cold War. Unlike most other US defense contracts, several companies, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, were involved in this deal.

Boeing yal-1

It was designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in the boost phase of their flight, providing a defensive capability against missile threats. The laser system used a chemical oxygen iodine laser COIL to emit a high-energy light beam. This laser was powerful enough to track and destroy ballistic missiles from a distance while still in their boost phase. The primary objective of the YAL-1 Airborne Laser program was to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of using directed energy weapons to intercept and destroy enemy missiles. The boost phase interception was considered advantageous because it allowed for the destruction of missiles early in their trajectory, reducing the potential damage they could cause. The YAL-1 underwent a series of flight tests and ground-based tests to evaluate its capabilities. It successfully demonstrated the ability to track and destroy multiple test targets during its testing phase. However, the program faced various technical and operational challenges, including the limited range and duration of the laser system, the size and weight of the equipment, and the complexity of maintaining and operating the aircraft. Despite some successes, the YAL-1 Airborne Laser program was ultimately canceled in due to cost overruns, technical difficulties, and shifting priorities within the Department of Defense. The system was never deployed operationally, and the aircraft was retired. The YAL-1 Airborne Laser represented an ambitious effort to develop a laser-based missile defense system. While the program was discontinued, it provided valuable insights and technological advancements that have influenced subsequent research and development efforts in directed energy weapons. This type of laser utilized a chemical reaction to produce a high-energy beam of light capable of destroying ballistic missiles. The COIL laser combined chemicals within the laser system to generate the laser beam. The main components of the laser system included:.

Advanced Armour Engineering is a medium-sized privately held company specializing in precision mechanical welding, precision cut, and boeing yal-1 components.

Lasers are a hallmark of military science fiction and, to casual observers, seem a long way off. This is not the case ; various nations have developed lasers for military purposes, namely, point defense. The Boeing YAL-1 represents a unique take on this trend and therefore is the subject of this article. Defense contractors designed the YAL-1 to intercept and destroy tactical theatre ballistic missiles during their launch stage source. Defense experts in the s identified lasers as a promising technology to tackle airborne threats, including planes and missiles source. COILs in the late 90s were eight times more powerful than earlier generations source.

It was designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in the boost phase of their flight, providing a defensive capability against missile threats. The laser system used a chemical oxygen iodine laser COIL to emit a high-energy light beam. This laser was powerful enough to track and destroy ballistic missiles from a distance while still in their boost phase. The primary objective of the YAL-1 Airborne Laser program was to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of using directed energy weapons to intercept and destroy enemy missiles. The boost phase interception was considered advantageous because it allowed for the destruction of missiles early in their trajectory, reducing the potential damage they could cause.

Boeing yal-1

Boeing is responsible for programme management, systems integration, battle management system and modification of the F aircraft. TRW is building the laser systems. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is responsible for the target acquisition and beam control systems. In April the ABL final critical design review was completed. In July , the modified aircraft took the first of a series of test flights.

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The test validated the system's ability to track an airborne target and measure and compensate for atmospheric distortion. Defense contractors designed the YAL-1 to intercept and destroy tactical theatre ballistic missiles during their launch stage source. Tools Tools. Tougher solid-fueled ICBM destruction range would likely have been limited to km, too short to be useful in many scenarios, according to a report by the American Physical Society on National Missile Defense. The Boeing YAL-1 represents a unique take on this trend and therefore is the subject of this article. Get the weekly email from Grey Dynamics that makes reading intel articles and reports actually enjoyable. It is resistant to unexpected impacts in harsh weather conditions. Archived from the original on October 20, These sensors could see the heat emitted by the missile's engines or warheads, even without visible light. Each module weighed about 6, pounds 3, kg.

It was primarily designed to test its feasibility as a missile defense system to destroy tactical ballistic missiles TBMs while in boost phase. Department of Defense.

BILL provides atmospheric data necessary for calibrating adaptive optics source. A "low-power demonstrator" was planned to fly sometime in or around On 12 February , the YAL-1 flew its final flight and landed at Davis-Monthan AFB , Arizona, where it was placed in storage at the "boneyard" operated by the th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group until it was ultimately scrapped in September after all usable parts were removed. All of this would have occurred in approximately 8 to 12 seconds. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. SpanClamps in Other Products or Services. The laser was fired into an onboard calorimeter, which captured the beam and measured its power. It's like taking a magnifying glass and burning a hole through a piece of paper, but we do it through metal," said Dr. Non-Military Applications: Airborne laser technology may also have non-military applications. Rather than a manned jetliner containing chemical fuels flying at 40, feet 12 km , firing a megawatt laser from a range of "tens of kilometers" at a boost-phase missile, the new concept envisioned an unmanned aircraft carrying an electric laser flying at 65, feet 20 km , firing the same power level at targets potentially up to "hundreds of kilometers" away for survivability against air defenses. Retrieved June 17, — via aviationweek.