On Feb 15, 3:08*pm, "Jonathan" wrote:
"Pat Flannery" wrote in message

...

They actually shot down a missile with the thing; and sci-fi fans will be
happy to know the beam really does glow red, just like in the movies:
http://defensetech.org/2010/02/12/ab...ful-shootdown/

Pat

The Sec of Defense recently called the ABL program 'fatally flawed'. Not sure
why
but it looks like the funding is going away.

Not sure if the public funded Boeing, Raytheon and TRW effort known as
ABL is good or bad, though either way it’s certainly spendy, and
there’s no telling what kinds of friendly fire sorts of collateral
damage are involved thus far, and as to what extent the not always
failsafe future has to offer.

With so much of our national resources going into advanced weapons,
perhaps the good side of all this will eventually create a thousand
fold more powerful laser cannon that can defend Earth from those NEOs
and rogue arrivals that pose a significant threat.

~ BG