Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed

[flateric]

With a Rosdivan's hint here goes autopsy of YAL-1A.
Note that all these go from the open source....

 

[flateric]

...little bit more...

 

[Rickshaw]

Why is the "target ranger" angled downwards? I'd have thought it would be aligned with the main laser.

 

[flateric]

Why is the "target ranger" angled downwards? I'd have thought it would be aligned with the main laser.

The key word is 'boost phase intercept' - YAL-1A purpose is to intercept missiles just after launch. Where you'd expect to see these while trying to do this while flying stright and level?

 

[Rickshaw]

So, why isn't the laser therefore then aligned with the "target ranger"?

 

[Triton]

Boeing promotional video for the Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed (formerly Airborne Laser).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5SDo0rH1Xo


Future Weapons television series segment on Airborne Laser Testbed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LKk1bTL6fk


Cut-away illustration of Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed.

Source: http://www.airborne-laser.com/airborne_laser_photo_album/


Another cut-away illustration of Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed.

Source: http://www.jimonlight.com/2009/03/30/the-yal-1-might-get-scrapped/


Cut-away model of Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robot-vs-monkey/1394147293/

Photograph of Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed.

Source: http://www.boeing-747.com/special_boeing_747s/

 

[Trident]

So, why isn't the laser therefore then aligned with the "target ranger"?

Both systems are trainable AFAIK, so where their bore sight axis is pointed makes little difference. My guess is that the ranging system pod points down a bit because Boeing found this was preferable for some obscure aerodynamic reason.

 

[fightingirish]

Now stored!

 

[Firebee]

There is also this book (circa 1997) about the development of the ABL.

By Robert W. Duffner
Published by Basic Books (USA)
ISBN: 9780306456220

 

[Triton]

Boeing promotional video for the YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed, a modified 747-400 that was developed to shoot down ballistic missiles during the first few minutes of flight.

 

[sferrin]

Cancelled ages ago.

 

[Triton]

Cancelled ages ago.

Sorry, I didn't do a good job re-writing the caption for the video on YouTube.

 

[Jos Heyman]

The only aircraft built, 00-0001, was sent to AMARC on 12 February 2012. The second one, 00-0002, was never built.

 

[Stargazer]

Do we have confirmation that the quoted YFC-36A was the initial designation of the YAL-1A, or was this just an educated guess?

 

[Jos Heyman]

I believe it was allocated in 1996.

 

[Andreas Parsch]

Do we have confirmation that the quoted YFC-36A was the initial designation of the YAL-1A, or was this just an educated guess?

Educated guess.

The only confirmed information for the YFC-36A designator is the timeframe of the MDS reservation (early 1996), and that the plane was to have 4 engines. If you are looking for a project in 1996 for a 4-engined transport modified to a "prototype interceptor" (the official definition of the "F" modified mission prefix says "Aircraft modified to intercept and destroy other aircraft or missiles"), the ABL is a more or less perfect match. But I admit it's still only an educated guess :-\ .

 

[Cy-27]

Below is a description of Lockheed-Martin's role in the Airborne Laser Beam and Fire Control. I believe the document dates from 2000-2001.

 

[circle-5]

Excellent article by Northrop Grumman's own Tony Chong, here.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Good Day All -

Some details in the linked PDF of the YAL-1 exterior and interior:

http://www.0x4d.net/files/AF1/R11%20Segment%2010.pdf

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[Orionblamblam]

Mark: neato, thanks!

"Chlorine system, overview of hazards."

Yeah. What could *possibly* be hazardous there...

 

[RAP]

A little Boeing info from 1999.

 

[Temistocle]

Hi, an article about the Airborne Laser Laboratory, the predecessor of YAL-1, here:

Creating an Airborne Laser Lab

In the 1970s and 1980s, the U.S. Air Force and its contractors experimented with packing a 400-kW gas-dynamic laser into a military-grade Boeing 707.

www.osa-opn.org

If someone need it, just send me a PM.

 

[aonestudio]

The Only Time the Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed 747 Ever Came to an Airshow

Davis-Monthan Airshow in 2012, was the only time the public ever got a close look at the most expensive aircraft in history: the Boeing YAL-1 Airborne

theaviationist.com

 

[tarpus91]

Stuff from the ABL design program.
I'm unable to located my plastic model of the ABL. It's about 5 inches long and has a push-button on the back that operates a laser pointer that comes out of the nose/turret of the aircraft.

 

[aonestudio]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1540672834535555072

View: https://twitter.com/beverstine/status/1540672834535555072

 

[flateric]

SIGNED Airborne Laser YAL-1 Desktop Model | eBay

<p>Signed Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser desktop model. Model has not been displayed other than for photography. Signed by Boeing flight test directors and USAF pilots. 1/200 scale. Wooden construction. Made by Toys and Models Corporation. All questions are welcomed. </p>

www.ebay.com

 

[Forest Green]

Missile Defense Agency has new hope for airborne lasers - Breaking Defense

Mark Lewis, formerly the Pentagon's senior scientist now CEO of the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI), gave MDA a thumbs up for taking a new look at the concept, noting that the technology has come a long way since 2014.

breakingdefense.com