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AKA: Arbeitskreis Physik und Abrüstung
AKA 6: Surveillance and Space Security
AKA 6.3: Talk
Thursday, February 28, 2008, 17:30–18:00, H 0110
The Airborne Laser - Assessment of a High Energy Laser project — •Jan Stupl1, Götz Neuneck1, Claus Emmelmann2, Hartwig Spitzer3, and Martin B. Kalinowski4 — 1Institut für Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik an der Universität Hamburg (IFSH) — 2Institut für Laser- und Anlagensystemtechnik, TU Hamburg-Harburg (iLAS) — 3Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Hamburg — 4Zentrum für Naturwissenschaft und Friedensforschung (ZNF)
The Airborne Laser (ABL) is a project undertaken by the U. S. missile defense agency. The basic idea is to to install a megawatt class chemical laser into a freighter jet in order to destroy missiles in their boost phase over distances of several hundred kilometres.
This talk presents an independent analysis of the ABL’s technical capabilities. Calculations of missile and satellite trajectories are combined with atmospheric physics and structural mechanics calculations in order to assess the ABL’s implications.
One result is that the laser will not be able to destroy missile warheads for significant distances, but only missile boosters. Warheads will fall short of intended targets and may endanger third parties. Exemplary calculations to narrow down possible impact points are presented.