Zapped: Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Destroys Ground Vehicle

Advanced Tactical Laser on C-130H

While not a missile defense platform like its big brother Airborne Laser (ABL), Boeing's other directed energy weapon just scored its first direct hit on a real target. Mounted on the underbelly a modified C-130H, the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) zapped a ground vehicle while cruising high above White Sands yesterday:

An airborne laser defeated a stationary vehicle in a test Monday, Boeing and the U.S. Air Force announced Tuesday.

It was the Advanced Tactical Laser aircraft's "first air-to-ground, high-power laser engagement of a tactically representative target," according to a news release.

During the test, the C-130H aircraft took off from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., and fired its high-power chemical laser over White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The beam control system acquired the ground target -- an unoccupied stationary vehicle -- guided the laser beam and "defeated" the vehicle.

Now, frying a parked truck on the ground is a far cry from destroying a high velocity ICBM in midflight from several hundred kilometers away, but still... A laser made a kill. That's pretty historic. And it has the diabolical gears turning:

As this test proves, the Laser has huge potential as a tool for assassination. Lasers have the potential to zap individual bad guys without causing the same kind of collateral damage as a Hellfire missile or small-diameter bomb.

Niiiice.

 

Comments

[Whitehall]

Sure would like a photo or video of a laser-fried truck.

The Boeing site lacks any photos except of the flying platform.

[Col.Smeag]

Here's Video of the demonstration....well some Hollywood for shadowing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2rtmoSuoL4

[KH-13]

And you're back on Armscontrolwonk, asserting that Syria hid Iraq's WMDs, and citing Debkafile of all things as a source! My goodness.

Do you have any actual evidence to support this?

Do you know who runs Debkafile, or why analysts would never cite them as a credible source?

[John McKittrick]

Ummmm, what?

I haven't commented at ACW in months and have never cited Debka for anything...here, there or anywhere.

Could you please point me to this comment?

Or are you referring to one of the other commenters above (Whitehall or smeag)?

[John McKittrick]

OK, I found the Debka comment you're ascribing to me at ACW in this post:

“where WMD [in Iraq] was alleged and yet it didn’t exist.” Debkafile claimed at the time that Iraqi WMD did exist and that Syria helped Saddam get rid of them, ie import them into Syria where they are still being stored.

— Major Lemon · Sep 1, 09:00 AM ·

Hey genius, that's not me. I am John McKittrick, not this "Major Lemon" person.

[John McKittrick]

So, "KH-13" why did you lie and attribute someone else's comment to me?

And "KH-13" --- I know exactly who you are...

[2Hotel9]

Shooting down missiles and whatnot is all well and good. Sorry. I read this and my first thought is of the comforting hum/rumble/vibration of a C 130 loitering, all 3 ATLs warmed up and ready to smoke some targets, just as soon as I slip a bit closer.

These would make Puff and Azrael look tame and polite! ;)

[green laser pointer]

The C-103H looks so powerful.

[HID Kit]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment.