Added: Mar 31, 2008
From: thedewline
Duration: 5:12
Boeing has just released this promotional video for the YAL-1 Airborne Laser, a modified 747-400 that is being developed to shoot down ballistic missiles during the first few minutes of flight.
Channel: Tech
Tags: 747 air airborne aircraft aviation boeing defense force laser missile rocket space
Rating: 4.75 (16 ratings) Views: 22008' favoriteCount='16 Comments: 12
cangeloc127 Says:
Apr 3, 2008 - (laughing victoriously) Brilliantly awesome weapon, even more brilliantly awesome United States military technology. Serious kudos to Boeing and the Missile Defense Agency for this project... and woe to the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, among other villains of American memory, for their machinations.
17db77b Says:
Apr 3, 2008 - It would seem the counter-measures to this would be to eliminate the drones, and then go after the "747", and then deploy and launch the missles.
taishartrueblood Says:
Apr 3, 2008 - 17db77b, that is alot tougher then you make it sound. This system is not designed to stop a massive assault but more of an isolated missle like n.Korea or Iran might be able to fire.
conotoxin Says:
Apr 5, 2008 - 17db77b - Sure... but going after that 747 won't be that easy. It won't be up there alone. And the drones are not so easy to kill either. Hard to see, hard to hit.And I have heard things like "spin the missile" as countermeasures. That is laughable. Try spinning in front of a shotgun blast & see how much good that does you. The laser delivers so much power over such a short period of time that spinning the missile is only minimally helpful. See the MTHEL.
runescapecat454 Says:
Apr 22, 2008 - I heard there going to get this into service pretty soon. If anyone wants to see a awsome picture of the YAL-1 I have it on my background image in my account
AnimatedEnigma Says:
Apr 30, 2008 - The future IS NOW! A weapon that travels at the speed of light!!!!!!!!!!
kashsoldier Says:
Jun 10, 2008 - sure, it does travels the speed of light, but not the boeing 747 !! It could be shot down !! Moreover the laser's power reduces with distance
kashsoldier Says:
Jun 10, 2008 - and ballistic missiles could be fired from launchers hidden in deep jungles and silos !! It takes time for the boeing 747 stationed near some military base to go airborne and take down a ballistic missile which has already been fired.If boeing 747 is already in the air, then the ballistic missile can be taken down, but if 25 missiles at the same time are fired, then I don't know what to say
atrios28 Says:
Aug 19, 2008 - Faster Faster Pussycat Kill KILL KILL!!!
2Howl Says:
Sep 22, 2008 - It's an intriguing weapon. However, it would have to be part of a layered missile defense, if it is to be used against a large scale missile attack. And it would need an airwing of fighters for protection and at least two tanker aircraft to refuel them to support it. If it workds, deploy it. But they should also continue to refine it, to make the laser more powerful,more compact, and lighter.
Qonold Says:
Nov 29, 2008 - you people do know that the creators take all of these problems into consideration like the risk of being shot down. You do know that it can go under escort and for that matter cant any plane be shot down? All i know is that they tedted the laser and it vaporized a 3in by 3 in target from 27 miles away.
williebruciestewie Says:
Mar 31, 2008 - Awesome!