Getting Fired Up

Boeing announced May 19 that it has begun firing the advanced tactical laser that has been integrated onto its host C-130 platform in ground tests. The first successful firing of the high-energy chemical laser occurred May 13 at Kirtland AFB, N.M. Additional ground tests are planned, followed by tests from the air against mission-representative targets, the company said. “Later this year, we will fire the laser in-flight at ground targets, demonstrating the military utility of this transformational directed energy weapon,” said Scott Fancher, VP and GM of Boeing Missile Defense Systems.