Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has begun flight testing for the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program and has generated "first light" of ATL's high-energy chemical laser in ground tests, achieving two key milestones in the laser gunship development effort.More details over here.
During the "low-power" flight tests, which began Oct. 10 and conclude this fall, the ATL ACTD system will find and track ground targets at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. A low-power, solid-state laser will serve as a surrogate for ATL's high-power chemical laser.
Boeing starts testing laser gunships
Posted on Tuesday, October 17 2006 @ 3:46 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Boeing started flight testing for the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program: