Northrop Grumman checks out COIL for ABL

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. company Northrop Grumman has completed two key projects in preparing the Airborne Laser test aircraft.

The company said in a statement Thursday it had "achieved two milestones that helped prepare the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Airborne Laser -- ABL -- aircraft for integration of the Northrop Grumman-developed high-energy laser."

Northrop Grumman said its Space Technology sector "completed inspection and refurbishment of the components and parts that compose the Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser -- COIL-- a megawatt-class laser the company designed and built for the ABL program."

"In conjunction with the Boeing Company, ABL's prime contractor, Northrop Grumman also completed extensive engineering drawings for the installation of the laser. The drawings incorporate streamlined processes and other improvements learned during ground tests concluded in 2005," the company said.

"These achievements represent outstanding progress toward providing our nation with a mobile, speed-of-light capability to attack ballistic missiles during their boost phase," said Alexis Livanos, corporate vice president and president of the company's Space Technology sector.

"The accomplishments contributed to the successful completion of all preparations necessary to ready the ABL aircraft and its support systems for the re-assembly of the COIL, the world's most powerful laser built for an airborne environment," Northrop Grumman said.

"Significant progress on COIL's re-assembly is being made at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., where the aircraft is currently based. The re-assembly will continue into 2008 and will be followed by ground and flight testing of the integrated weapon system, culminating in the shoot-down of a boosting ballistic missile planned in 2009," Northrop Grumman said.

"The streamlined planning and integration sequence, along with completion and delivery of all parts, will allow Northrop Grumman and Boeing technicians to complete the re-assembly in one third the time originally required to assemble and test the COIL," said Dan Wildt, vice president of Directed Energy Systems at Northrop Grumman Space Technology.

"The Boeing Company provides the modified 747-400F ABL aircraft. ... Northrop Grumman supplies the missile-killing, high-energy laser, as well as the beacon illuminator laser. ... Lockheed Martin provides the beam control/fire control system," Northrop Grumman said.