MOSCOW, August 21 (RIA Novosti) -- The U.S. has successfully fired the Airborne Laser's (ABL) weapon's system megawatt-class Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) in flight, the Missile Defense Agency said.
It said the megawatt-class laser was fired into a modified Boeing 747-400F prototype aircraft that captured the laser energy and measured performance characteristics of the beam.
The agency said it was the final step in flight tests.
"Although significant work remains before external lasing in flight can take place, this phase of COIL testing represents a major step toward the ABL's planned lethal demonstration against a boosting missile later this year," the MDA said.
It said ABL was being developed as a future element of "the nation's ballistic missile defense system," and the first to use directed energy to destroy ballistic missiles in their "boost" phase.
