Boeing Laser Systems Destroy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Tests — Press Release

November 18, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Business Line, Companies, Events, Press Releases, S&T, development program, missile defense 

boeing uav testBoeing Laser Systems Destroy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Tests

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Nov. 18, 2009 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] in May demonstrated the ability of mobile laser weapon systems to perform a unique mission: track and destroy small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

During the U.S. Air Force-sponsored tests at the Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake, Calif., the Mobile Active Targeting Resource for Integrated eXperiments (MATRIX), which was developed by Boeing under contract to the Air Force Research Laboratory, used a single, high-brightness laser beam to shoot down five UAVs at various ranges. Laser Avenger, a Boeing-funded initiative, also shot down a UAV. Representatives of the Air Force and Army observed the tests.

“The Air Force and Boeing achieved a directed-energy breakthrough with these tests,” said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems’ Directed Energy Systems unit. “MATRIX’s performance is especially noteworthy because it demonstrated unprecedented, ultra-precise and lethal acquisition, pointing and tracking at long ranges using relatively low laser power.”

Bill Baker, chief scientist of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate, praised his team and Boeing for these successful UAV shootdowns.

“These tests validate the use of directed energy to negate potential hostile threats against the homeland,” Baker said. “The team effort of Boeing and the Air Force in developing MATRIX will pay major dividends for the warfighter now and in the years ahead.”

As part of the overall counter-UAV demonstration, Boeing also successfully test-fired a lightweight 25mm machine gun from the Laser Avenger platform to potentially further the hybrid directed energy/kinetic energy capability against UAV threats.

Boeing Directed Energy Systems, based in Albuquerque, developed MATRIX, a mobile, trailer-mounted test bed that integrates with existing test-range radar. Directed Energy Systems and Boeing Combat Systems in St. Louis cooperatively developed Laser Avenger, which integrates a directed-energy weapon together with the existing kinetic weapons on the proven Avenger air defense system developed by Combat Systems.

Boeing leads the way in developing laser weapon systems for a variety of U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy applications. These systems include the Airborne Laser, Advanced Tactical Laser, Free Electron Laser, High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator and Tactical Relay Mirror System.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

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Contact:

Marc Selinger
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-872-4240
marc.selinger@boeing.com

Chuck Cadena
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-872-4503
chuck.cadena@boeing.com

Photo courtesy of Boeing.

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Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser Fires High-Power Laser in Flight – Press Release

June 15, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Business Line, Companies, Department of Defense, Events, Military Aviation, S&T, Services, U.S. Air Force, development program, missile defense 

Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser Fires High-Power Laser in Flight

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 15, 2009 – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force on June 13 successfully fired the high-power laser aboard the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) aircraft for the first time in flight. During the test, ATL took off from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., and fired its laser while flying over White Sands Missile Range, N.M., successfully hitting a target board located on the ground. ATL, which Boeing is developing for the U.S. Air Force, is a C-130H aircraft
equipped with a chemical laser, a beam control system, sensors and weapon-system consoles.

“This successful test is a major step toward bringing directed energy capability to the warfighter,” said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Directed Energy Systems. “We have demonstrated that an airborne system can fire a high-power laser in flight and deliver laser beam energy to a ground target. ATL’s ultra-precision engagement capability will dramatically reduce collateral damage.”

More tests are planned to demonstrate ATL’s military utility. The system is designed to destroy, damage or disable targets with little to no collateral damage. These demonstrations support development of systems that will conduct missions on the battlefield and in urban operations. The Boeing-led ATL industry team includes L-3 Communications/Brashear,
which built the laser turret; HYTEC Inc., which made a variety of the weapon system’s structural elements; and J.B. Henderson, which provides mechanical integration support. Boeing leads the way in developing laser systems for a variety of Air Force, Army and Navy applications. These include the Airborne Laser, the Free Electron Laser, the High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator, Laser Avenger, the Re-deployable High Energy Laser System and the Tactical Relay Mirror System.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

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Contact:
Marc Selinger
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-414-6138

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