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Article: AF PLANS TO TEST ANTISATELLITE LASER CONCEPT THIS YEAR.
- Article from:
- Defense Daily
- Article date:
- January 27, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Access Intelligence, LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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By David Atkinson The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) at Kirtland AFB, N.M., later this year plans to test adaptive optics and beam-control systems as part of an Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program to demonstrate potential antisatellite laser technologies, according to Pentagon documents obtained by Defense Daily. The ground-based system, based on adaptive optical technology developed for the Airborne Laser (ABL) program, would be used to conduct "space control" missions against enemy satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). The service currently lacks any weapon capable of damaging or hindering a satellite in orbit. The ASAT missile program developed during the ...