The Boeing company and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency successfully fired the Airborne Laser (ABL) in the first in-flight test against an instrumented target missile achieving an aviation milestone.

The modified Boeing 747-400F took off from Edwards Air Force Base and used it's infrared sensors and on-board battle management system in conjunction with two solid state illuminator tracking lasers to locate, identify and track a test missile that was launched from San Nicolas Island, California. Once the identification and trajectory were confirmed, the Airborne laser then fired its knockout, third and main surrogate high-energy laser, intercepting the target missile with lethal force. Instrumentation on the test missile confirmed a direct hit.

According to Micheal Rinn, Boeing Vice president and ABL Director, the capabilities of the Airborne laser are tremendous. "This test demonstrates that the Airborne Laser can fully engage an in-flight missile with its battle management and beam control/fire control systems. Pointing and focusing a laser beam on a target that is rocketing skyward at thousands of miles per hour is no easy task, but the Airborne Laser is uniquely able to do the job."

The ABL will continue to undergo additional testing in the next few months culminating with high-energy laser intercept test against a ballistic missile later this year. The ABL's revolutionary speed, mobility, precision and lethality would make it a great asset to America's war fighters