Editing Boeing YAL-1 (section)

=== Testing ===
Besides the COIL, the system also included two kilowatt-class Target Illuminator Lasers for target tracking. On March 15, 2007, the YAL-1 successfully fired this laser in flight, hitting its target. The target was an [[Boeing NC-135|NC-135E]] ''Big Crow'' test aircraft that has been specially modified with a "signboard" target on its fuselage. The test validated the system's ability to track an airborne target and measure and compensate for atmospheric distortion.<ref name="atn1" />

The next phase in the test program involved the "surrogate high-energy laser" (SHEL), a stand-in for the COIL, and demonstrated the transition from target illumination to simulated weapons firing.  The COIL system was installed in the aircraft and was undergoing ground testing by July 2008.<ref name="bbc1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7531046.stm|publisher=[[BBC News]] | title = 'Laser jumbo' testing moves ahead|work=bbc.co.uk|date=July 29, 2008 | access-date = June 17, 2019 | archive-date = April 14, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190414094816/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7531046.stm | url-status = live}}</ref>

In an April 6, 2009 press conference, the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] Robert Gates recommended the cancellation of the planned second ABL aircraft and said that the program should return to a Research and Development effort. "The ABL program has significant affordability and technology problems and the program's proposed operational role is highly questionable," Gates said in making the recommendation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008997361_defensecuts07.html |title=Local News – Boeing "hit harder" than rivals by defense budget cuts – Seattle Times Newspaper |work=nwsource.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410052937/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008997361_defensecuts07.html |archive-date=April 10, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref>

There was a test launch off the California coast on June 6, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090609_8318.php|title=Home Security Systems : My Home Security|work=globalsecuritynewswire.org|date=January 7, 2023 }}</ref> At that time it was anticipated that the new Airborne Laser Aircraft could be ready for operation by 2013 after a successful test. On August 13, 2009, the first in-flight test of the YAL-1 culminated with a successful firing of the SHEL at an instrumented test missile.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=796|title=Boeing Airborne Laser Team Completes 1st Airborne Test Against Instrumented Target Missile|work=mediaroom.com|date=August 13, 2009|location=[[Edwards Air Force Base]], California|access-date=June 17, 2019|publisher=[[The Boeing Company]]}}</ref>

On August 18, 2009 the high-energy laser aboard the aircraft successfully fired in flight for the first time. The YAL-1 took off from Edwards Air Force Base and fired its high-energy laser while flying over the California High Desert. The laser was fired into an onboard calorimeter, which captured the beam and measured its power.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=803 | title = Boeing: Boeing Airborne Laser Team Fires High-Energy Laser in Flight | work = mediaroom.com | publisher = [[The Boeing Company]] | date = August 20, 2009 | location = [[Edwards Air Force Base]], California | access-date = June 17, 2019}}</ref>

In January 2010, the high-energy laser was used in-flight to intercept, although not destroy, a test ''Missile Alternative Range Target Instrument'' (MARTI) in the boost phase of flight.<ref name="ABL_2010_test">{{cite web | url = https://www.mda.mil/news/gallery_altb.html | title = Airborne Laser Test Bed Media Gallery | website = www.mda.mil}}</ref>  On February 11, 2010, in a test at Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division Sea Range off the central California coast, the system successfully destroyed a liquid-fuel boosting ballistic missile. Less than an hour after that first missile had been destroyed, a second missile—a solid-fuel design—had, as announced by the MDA, been "successfully engaged", but not destroyed, and that all test criteria had been met. The MDA announcement also noted that ABL had destroyed an identical solid-fuel missile in flight eight days earlier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mda.mil/news/10news0002.html |title=Airborne Laser Testbed Successful in Lethal Intercept Experiment |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency |date=February 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215081702/http://www.mda.mil/news/10news0002.html |archive-date=February 15, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> This test was the first time that a [[directed-energy weapon|directed-energy]] system destroyed a ballistic missile in any phase of flight.  It was later reported that the first February 11 engagement required 50% less dwell time than expected to destroy the missile, the second engagement on the solid-fuel missile, less than an hour later, had to be cut short before it could be destroyed because of a "beam misalignment" problem.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://aviationweek.com/awin/next-abl-test-require-twice-much-range-0 | title = Next ABL Test To Require Twice as Much Range | date = March 19, 2010 | first = Amy | last = Butler | work = Aviation Week Intelligence Network | via = aviationweek.com | publisher = [[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] | access-date = June 17, 2019 | url-access = subscription | archive-date = December 30, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221230145952/https://aviationweek.com/awin/next-abl-test-require-twice-much-range-0 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', February 22, 2010, p. 26.</ref>