Boeing Integrated Defense System Wichita originally modified a 747 for the Airborne Laser program that is designed to detect, track and destroy ballistic missiles. The system utilizes a megawatt-class Chemical Oxygen Iodine laser. The recently completed flight tests measured the aircraft's ability to identify and track targets, according to a Boeing spokesman.

The aircraft will fly back to Boeing IDS Wichita "in the immediate future." The company would not release the exact date citing security requirements. Then, over the next six months, workers will install a framework to strengthen the rear of the aircraft to support the weight of the laser and additional wiring, Wichita Business Journal reported Wednesday.

Boeing is the prime contractor for the Airborne Laser. Northrup Grumman and Lockheed Martin are also partners for the program.

The test event, called the Low Power Systems Integration-Passive test, included ground and flight tests of ABL's battle management command-and-control system and the Beam Control/Fire Control segment.

"Completion of this test phase for the Airborne Laser program further demonstrates the air worthiness and the functionality of the airborne mission payload," said Boeing Missile Defense Systems Vice President and General Manager Pat Shanahan. "With each testing increment, the ABL Team is making steady progress in bringing the ABL into the hands of the warfighter to defend against ballistic missile threats."

During the Edwards Air Force Base testing, the ABL team demonstrated the stability and alignment of the two beam control and fire control optical benches with the turret, Boeing said. The test demonstrated the system's pointing and vibration control functions as well as its ability to acquire targets as directed by the battle management segment.

Now, the system will undergo final modification to accommodate installation of the high energy lasers and then it will begin Low Power System Integration-Active ground testing.

During the active testing, two low-power illuminator lasers will be integrated and flight tested to demonstrate acquisition and fine tracking with active illumination. The testing also will verify ABL's atmospheric compensation design and operation, Boeing said.

MEADS boosts top team

MEADS International (MI) has expanded its Orlando technical management organization to lead the development of the ambitious, new Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS).

MEADS is a mobile air defense system designed to replace Patriot systems in the United States and Germany and Nike Hercules systems in Italy. It also meets the requirements of Germany's capabilities-oriented air defense concept.

System design work for the tri-national program is performed in Orland, Fla., Munich, Germany; Rome, Italy; Dallas, TX; Huntsville, AL; and Syracuse, NY. The United States funds 58 percent of the MEADS program, and European partners Germany and Italy provide 25 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

The MEADS program is managed by its president, Jim Cravens, from Lockheed Martin; executive vice president Axel Widera from the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS); and Lenkflugkorpersysteme (LFK) in Germany and its technical director Pietro Ragonese from MBDA Italia in Italy.

Volker Weidemann from EADS/LFK has been named director of the Systems Engineering and Integration Team (SEIT). Weidemann, a retired officer in the German air force, has 15 years of engineering management and air defense experience.

On May 31, MI signed a contract with NAMEADSMA, a charter organization of NATO to design and develop the next-generation air and missile defense system for Germany, Italy and the United States. The contract is valued at $3.4 billion for the program's nine-year design and development (D&D) phase.

MEADS is intended to provide capabilities beyond any other fielded or planned air and missile defense system. The program is intended to be easily deployed to a theater of operations and, once there, to keep pace with fast-moving maneuver forces.

When completed, MEADS will be the only air defense system able to roll off tactical transports with ground troops and almost immediately begin operations. The program is intended to provide greater firepower with less manpower than current systems, producing dramatic operation and support cost savings.

Japan streamlines ABM Command and Control

The Japanese parliament has streamlined procedures under which the head of its Defense Agency chief can order emergency missile interceptions without waiting for approval from the prime minister and the Cabinet The move paves the way for introduction of a missile defense system in 2007, the Japan Times reported.

During a plenary session on July 22, the House of Councilors, the upper house of parliament, passed a bill to add missile-defense provisions to the Self-Defense Forces Law. The bill was passed with a majority vote by the ruling coalition; it cleared the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, in June.

Under a new article on intercepting ballistic missiles, the Defense Agency chief will seek permission from the prime minister to deploy the missile shield, including Aegis vessels, if evidence of an imminent missile attack is detected. Evidence of this kind would include fueling missile launchers. The SDF would then launch interceptors if any missiles are fired toward Japan, the Japan Times said.

If there are no clear signs of a launch but conditions call for high alert and there is no time to seek consent, the agency chief can also mobilize the SDF to stand by for any sudden attack and order an intercept under emergency guidelines approved in advance by the prime minister, the paper said.

"We must prepare a missile defense system to counter a very new threat," Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori Ono told a news conference. "If a missile comes flying toward Japan, we must shoot it down to protect the lives and assets of our citizens before responding with defense mobilization." With North Korea apparently in mind, the Defense Agency advocates expedited procedures for intercept orders. Because a ballistic missile from the North could reach Japan in about 10 minutes, there would be no time to wait for approval from the Cabinet and the Security Council of Japan.

Japan plans to start deploying ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability 3 interceptor missiles by March 2007, and the Standard Missile 3 to be mounted on Aegis vessels by March 2008.