The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) awarded the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Boeing-led Airborne Laser (ABL) Team its NDIA Gold Medal for achieving first light and first flight milestones on the ABL program.

MDA ABL Program Management Officer Lt. Gen. Agustine “Gus” Velez accepted the award on behalf of the MDA and ABL Team at the NDIA’s “2005 Salute to Missile Defense” dinner in Arlington, Va., on June 30.

“The ABL program has made great strides over the past year,” MDA Director Trey Obering said at the NDIA awards dinner. “If the ABL program is successful, it will revolutionize warfare as we know it today.”

The Boeing ABL Team continues to make progress on the program. Recently the team exposed the aircraft’s conformal window for the first time during flight, a maneuver necessary for the weapon system to complete its mission of shooting down an enemy ballistic missile during the boost phase of flight.