Air Force test of SHiELD laser weapon indicates it is ready to shoot down incoming enemy missiles
May 6, 2019
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. – U.S. Air Force officials say they were able to shoot enemy missiles out of the sky with a ground-based laser weapon that Air Force leaders plan to make small enough to fit aboard aircraft. Stars and Stripes reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
6 May 2019 -- The Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator Advanced Technology Demonstration Program, or SHiELD, conducted the tests on April 23, an Air Force Research Laboratory statement said Friday.
“The successful test is a big step ahead for directed energy systems and protection against adversarial threats,” said Maj. Gen. William Cooley, AFRL commander. “The ability to shoot down missiles with speed-of-light technology will enable air operation in denied environments.”
During the laser weapon tests at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., the laser system engaged and shot down multiple air-launched missiles in flight. It was not immediately clear whether the laser system shot down the targets one after the other, or if they were downed individually in separate tests.
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
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