Airborne Laser Passes Another Test

The US Air Force, along with Boeing Co. of Seattle, TRW Inc. in Detroit and Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, Calif., has fired a multihundred-kilowatt chemical oxygen iodine laser as part of the Airborne Laser Program. The experiments occurred June 3 at TRW's test site near San Clemente, Calif.

The test firing is the latest achievement in a series of tests the Air Force has conducted. In April, the team successfully tested the system that points and focuses the laser. The laser -- also known as YAL-1A Attack Laser -- is designed to defend civilians and military assets against attack by theater ballistic missiles.