Gizmodo: advanced tactical laser

Video of Airborne Tactical Laser Hitting a Ground Target Is Not Very Satisfying

Danny Allen — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EDT

You might remember that the U.S. Air Force and Boeing have equipped a C-130 plane with an Advanced Tactical Laser for initial air-to-air tests. In September, it finally hit something successfully: A truck. Cool enough, but don't expect any explosions.

The parked truck's hood and engine gets burned through like butter, and as you can see, the accuracy is pretty amazing. If this was a missile, it would have exploded in the air. The laser can produce between 100-300 kW of power, and the next step is to trial it on moving targets.

Even though the Air Force has scaled back the ambitious program's funding, perhaps we may still see the laser make it to battlefields. Maybe on the 250-Foot Long Hybrid Airship that will spy over Afghanistan in 2011? [Boeing via PopSci]

Senate to Defense Contractors: More Insane Laser Weapons, Please

John Mahoney — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EDT

In the 2009 defense authorization bill approved last week, the US Senate called for the defense industry to get serious about bringing laser weapons like Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser system (pictured) to the battlefield. The bill allocated more funds to laser programs large and small—from green lasers used to temporarily blind individual troops called "dazzlers" to the giant ATL-like canons used to fry tanks or incoming missiles from the sky. In short: the emperor is here on visit, and he is not happy that this battle station is not yet operational. [Washington Post]

Boeing Begins Firing Airborne High-Energy Laser, Nearby Planets Run Away

Jesus Diaz — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:20:00 EDT

Last week Boeing fired their high-energy chemical laser aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft for the first time ever, which is the first step in the final sprint to achieve a fully functional laser-based anti-missile system next year. By year's end the Advanced Tactical Laser will be firing at ground targets. According to Boeing, the ATL will "destroy, damage or disable targets with little to no collateral damage," thanks to its "ultra-precision engagement capability." I'm sure the dudes defending the Rebel Base at Hoth were delighted with that thought. [Boeing]

Laser Gunship to Destroy Ground Targets Death Star-Style

Haroon Malik — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:45:00 EST

We already told you about Boeing's airborne laser system, which can knock missiles, en route to a target, right out of the sky. Boeing has recently announced trials for a similar offensive system. The offensive part means the end result will be a laser gunship that will be able to destroy ground targets. Lasers? Airships? Destruction? Oh, we are spoiling you. Jump for the details.

The boffins at Boeing have tricked out an awesome C-130H, which now has the necessary equipment for tearing up any ground belonging to the bad guys. The modification required a laser module weighing in at 12,000 pounds. The new subsystem will be complemented by the older missile interceptor, which will be used in reverse to guide the destructive laser beam to enemy ground targets. We can only hope the point of laser impact is followed by a Death Star-esque explosion. Thankfully, we shall not have too long to wait to find out, as Boeing's Christmas present this year will be the promise of a demonstration in 2008. Granted, it does miss the usual deadline for Christmas, but as we do not usually receive gifts from Boeing, we will sit pretty in wait. If Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) team could figure out a way to fit the new 12,000-pound laser cannon into a handheld device, fashioned like a lightsaber, with the essential sound bites on activation, well, that would be Christmas '08 sorted...it might happen. [Defensetech]