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Boeing's flying death ray, now on air

Posted Oct 16, 2006 at 04:41AM by Tim Y. Listed in: Engineering Tags: Boeing
Ó

ATL


Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) program has just taken off, literally. After successful ground-based firing tests were carried out with their experimental ATL in Albuquerque, N.M. last month, Boeing's loaded the ATL's equipment into a modified C-130H Hercules, where it was flown off for targetting tests at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The tests began this October 10, and are expected to end by fall within the year.

Boeing's using a low-power solid-state laser (like the diode-based Blu-Ray in the PS3, only MUCH bigger) for the targetting tests instead of the actual chemical-based ATL, and will be firing it from a rotating  turret under the said aircraft. Actual airborne tests with the ATL are expected this 2007, as part of the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD).

"ATL will transform the battlefield by giving the warfighter a speed-of-light, precision engagement capability that will reduce collateral damage dramatically," said Pat Shanahan, Boeing Missile Defense Systems VP.

The ATL's part of an ongoing missile defense program that uses laser weapons as a means of shooting down enemy missiles and artillery shells, instead of resorting to Anti-missiles like the Patriot, which cost in the hundred-thousands per shot, while weapons like the ATL are estimated at "only" tens of thousands of dollars per pop.

Aside from them anti-aircraft role, Boeing envisions their ATL to be a next-generation gunship - an air vehicle providing troops with pinpoint-accurate fire support capable of adjusting its power for things as simple as blowing out car tires, to detonating fuel dumps.

Some of you out there might recognize the test vehicle, the C130H Hercules. It's currently got a gun platform in the service called the AC130 Spectre (MGS3 fans will remember this), which carries a mix of support weapons ranging from 20-mm vulcans to a 105-mm howitzer.

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5 Comments


Sort by:
   by CHUCKINGROCKSATSPACESHIPS - 2006-10-16
 » The Future Is Now
Next people will be running around with laser rifles.

   by teh uber 1337 l-l4><><()l2 (Unregistered) - 2006-10-16
 » 1 l'llll ll()()l35 l-l4l2l)
is this star wars?

   by Advertising -
   by justin (Unregistered) - 2006-10-17
 » yup this is star wars
this is star wars alright

   by LoneRanger - 2006-10-17
 » flashback
anyone ever see that movie with Val kilmer were he in collage working on this exact thing and in the end it hits the teachers house and its full of popcorn. No its not starwars that is a satallite and its supposed to be in space already.But if not then it will be.

   by hunty (Unregistered) - 2006-10-17
 » gunship?
if you've playted star wars: battlefront you might notice the similarity with the republic gunship's laser cannon :D



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