U.S.: The Airborne Laser Hits its Mark

The first successful test of an airborne laser system (ABL) against a ballistic missile in flight was conducted Feb. 11, proving that such system can indeed shoot down a missile. While offering many benefits over land-based systems — more mobility, quicker deployment and fewer headaches over basing agreements — the ABL in its current state is still very much a test system. Under the current Pentagon, it is unlikely to be fielded any time soon.