Laser Cannon For DARPA Being Tested By Lockheed Martin

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA has teamed up with Lockheed Martin to for something that is a lot like a ‘Star Wars’ type laser cannon. Lockheed Martin in conjunction with the Air Force Research Laboratory and the University of Notre Dame tested the cannon or ‘beam control turret’ that is officially called the Aero-Adaptive, Aero-Optic Beam Control, known as ABC .

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA has teamed up with Lockheed Martin to develop a plane mounted weapon a lot like a Star Wars type laser cannon.

Lockheed Martin in conjunction with the Air Force Research Laboratory and the University of Notre Dame tested the beam control turret that is officially called the Aero-Adaptive, Aero-Optic Beam Control, known as ABC .

Eight flights were conducted in Michigan. The ABC was installed on an older Dassault Falcon 10 business jet.

The vice president of advanced programs, Strategic and Missile Defense Systems at Lockheed Martin Space Systems stated “These initial flight tests validate the performance of our ABC turret design, which is an enabler for integrating high energy lasers on military aircraft.”

The ABC system will permit high-energy lasers to engage enemy missiles and aircraft from 360 degrees. That angle means the targets can be above, below and behind the plane.

Technologies involving optical compensation and flow control counteract the negative effects of turbulence. In layman's terms, that means the system can detect turbulence in the atmosphere and readjust the laser so it doesn’t become unfocused on its journey.