SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 15 (UPI) -- An aircraft laser turret to expand the weapon's effectiveness on fighter aircraft has been flight tested by Lockheed Martin.
The testing, for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, was conducted with the Air Force Research Laboratory and the University of Notre Dame, the company said, and demonstrated the beam control turret's airworthiness.
"These initial flight tests validate the performance of our ABC turret design, which is an enabler for integrating high-energy lasers on military aircraft," said Doug Graham, vice president of advanced programs, Strategic and Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems.
ABC stands for Aero-adaptive Aero-optic Beam Control. The system is designed to allow high-energy lasers to engage enemy aircraft and missiles above, below and behind the aircraft.
The effect of turbulence caused by the protrusion of a turret from an aircraft's fuselage is mitigated by Lockheed Martin's flow control and optical compensation technologies.
Lockheed Martin said eight flight tests were conducted. More will be conducted over the next 12 months to demonstrate the turret's capabilities.
