Having accomplished first light and first flight milestones at the end of 2004, the Boeing-led Airborne Laser (ABL) program has moved into the next phase of testing aimed at further validating the transformational weapon system as a critical component of the nation's multi-layered defense against the ballistic missile threat.

Boeing is the prime contractor and systems integrator of the ABL program that places a megawatt-class, high energy Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL), Beam & Fire Control and Battle Management system on a modified Boeing 747-400 aircraft to detect, track and destroy ballistic missiles in the boost phase of flight. ABL also can pass information on launch site, target track and predicted impact point to other layers of the global ballistic missile defense system.

Late last year, the Boeing-led ABL team, on contract to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, completed a "first light" test, which involved firing a laser beam for the first time using the ABL flight laser modules at the ABL System Integration Lab at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The ABL aircraft also conducted the "first flight" of the integrated Battle Management and Beam Control segments.

Missile Defense Agency Program Director Col. Ellen Pawlikowski (USAF) recently explained the importance of the ABL first light event.

"This is a very significant milestone for us," Pawlikowski said. "Production of photons of any laser system is a critical milestone in the fact that it verifies that the physics of the design is correct. This was our verification that in the design of the six modules together we had the right physics in order to produce the medium required to actually create and sustain a megawatt class laser beam. It's really the first step for us in validating that design and it represents a completion of the integration and checkouts of the laser."

Data collected from that lasing milestone makes it possible to transition into the follow-on test activities, Pawlikowski explained. "We will continue to test the laser gradually increasing the power level and particularly the duration until we can get a full expansion of understanding the laser performance," she said.

"Completion of first light and first flight were significant technological achievements in the ABL program, and demonstrated the continued steady flow of progress we've been making that propels the system into this next test phase," said Boeing Vice President and ABL Program Manager Scott Fancher. "We're proud of the ABL team for over coming the many first-of-a-kind obstacles to get to this point and we look forward to the deployment of ABL."

ABL flight tests also are planned to continue through 2005. Flight tests are conducted in two parts, with the first focused on the passive low power system integration test. The second series of flights will exercise the beam control systems without the illuminator lasers in the aircraft to measure the vibration environment and sensor performance.

"This is very key because it allows us to check that system out in its actual flight environment, to understand what that flight environment will do and understand how the system behaves as we use the sensors against the target boards that we'll fly against," Pawlikowski noted.

Fancher said the year ahead will be busy for the ABL team as work continues on one of the most complex engineering challenges ever undertaken in an aircraft.

"The team is making solid progress in developing this system to provide a boost phase defense against the ballistic missile threat," he added.

Other ABL partners include Northrop-Grumman, which provides the laser segment and Lockheed Martin, which provides the BC/FC segment.