Airborne Laser Illuminator Shines

During a series of in-flight tests, the kilowatt-class solid-state illuminator laser for the Airborne Laser (ABL) performed successfully, firing for as long as 90 seconds on more than 50 different occasions. In the finished ABL system, the illuminator's role is to track a boosting ballistic missile, which is then destroyed by the megawatt chemical laser on board.

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