The airborne laser

The Airborne Laser (ABL), a high-flying megawatt laser that pinpoints a ballistic missile lifting off hundreds of kilometers away, is an alternative to terminal defenses. The utility of the ABL in future regional conflicts, and the consequent policy options the United States can exercise, will be highly dependent on its range. The ABL's range in turn is determined by the accuracy with which the primary laser beam can be pointed, the power density it can deliver, and the structural design of the missile being attacked. This paper's examination of these issues, including all the estimates of the ABL's capabilities, are from the author's own analyses. The findings combine information found in the open literature with the basic physics and engineering involved in propagating intense laser beams through the atmosphere.