Approved by the Senate Wednesday, the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill calls for accelerating work towards operational laser weapons, and more importantly, includes additional funding for these “directed-energy weapons” programs.
The bill is in line with last year’s Defense Science Board report, which acknowledged the enormous potential of tactical laser ground strikes to “minimize collateral damage in urban conflicts,” as well as their potential in eliminating enemy missiles, UAV’s, and other airborne entities.
However eager, the Senate does not wish to waste money on laser development. In its report on the 2009 defense authorization bill, The Senate Armed Services Committee expressed concern over the slow progress of government-funded laser weapon programs, writing, “years of investment have not resulted in any current operational high-energy laser capability."
So, with the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill, more funds have been allocated for general laser development. However, the cautious Senate committee withheld another $30 million for the Advanced Tactical Laser (similar to the Airborne Laser pictured above, mounted on a modified 747). They will not authorize funds for a new version of the Advanced Tactical Laser before its first shoot-down test. The ATL was successfully test fired this May, and the first in-flight shoot-down test is scheduled for the end of 2009.
Update: As pointed out in the comments, the picture does not depict the ATL on a Hercules, but rather a similar laser on a Boeing 747-400F. Thanks.
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