L-3 Brashear is under contract to
design and fabricate the optical components for the
Airborne Laser program. This effort is in support
of the Boeing/Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman team
that is developing the ABL system for the U.S. Air
Force. The ABL weapon system shoots down theater
ballistic missiles while they still are over the launch
area. The ABL weapon system operates
at altitudes above the clouds where it can acquire
and track missiles in boost flight, and then accurately
point and fire the laser with such energy that the
missile is destroyed before it can do any harm.
