A meeting to collect public comments regarding environmental impacts from the military’s Airborne Laser test program drew just a few people and no objections at the Lompoc City Council Chambers Oct. 17.

Vandenberg is set to launch a target weapon, which the ABL flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet, would shoot down. The impact would occur over the Pacific Ocean about 81 miles from base.
The ABL system is one element of the Missile Defense Agency’s ballistic missile defense system, which is intended to provide an effective defense for the United States, its deployed forces, and its friends and allies against limited missile attack during all three stages of an attacking missile’s flight.

Those stages are, the boost, midcourse, and terminal segments. During the boost segment, the missile is under power and is being thrust skyward by its rocket engines. The midcourse segment is the longest. It’s when the missile is in a ballistic arc, heading for its target. The terminal segment is the few remaining moments of flight before the missile reaches its target.
Each element of the ballistic missile defense system is designed to work independently to provide an effective defense against incoming missiles, according to Capt. Joe Wimmer, ABL System Program External Affairs Office, Kirtland AFB, NM.

The ABL is designed to destroy missiles during the boost phase. It’s a weapon system that’s designed to spot, track, engage and destroy missiles using a megawatt-class laser.
The ABL system consists of a modified Boeing 747-400F aircraft that uses four lasers. The first three are not designed to destroy, rather they are used to gather information regarding the target and to make the high-energy laser more effective, Wimmer said. The information gathering lasers are the active ranging system laser, the track illuminator laser, and the beacon illuminator laser.

The active ranging system provides basic information regarding the target, such as speed, altitude, range and direction. The track illuminator laser provides the high-energy laser targeting system with the optimum location upon which to attack the target. The beacon illuminator laser is used to gather information on the atmosphere between the aircraft and the target, Wimmer explained.

The fourth laser is the high-energy, weapons class laser that is designed to destroy the target. It is a megawatt class laser generated by a chemical reaction.

A battle management command center onboard the aircraft provides computerized control of the laser weapon system, communications and intelligence, Wimmer said. During flight-test activities, the airborne laser aircraft flies at or above 35,000 feet and detects and tracks launches of target missiles using onboard sensors. Active tracking of the missile begins when the missile clears the cloud tops. The high-energy laser is directed in an upward direction toward the missile. The energy from the laser heats the missile’s booster components and causes a stress fracture in the outer surface of the missile. This allows gases from the booster rocket to escape, causing an explosion and destroying the missile.

The geometry of the test activities precludes operation of the laser except at a horizontal or upward angle. This is to ensure that lower-flying aircraft and objects on the ground are not in the path of the laser beam. The onboard sensors also confirm that nothing in the air or space, other than the intended target, is within the potential beam path. This is in addition to using controlled and cleared airspace during ABL flight-testing.

The proposed action is to conduct test activities of the airborne laser system at test ranges associated with Edwards and Vandenberg AFBs, Calif., and Kirtland AFB, NM and White Sands Missile Range with support from Holloman AFB, NM. Flight-testing is proposed at the airspace complex at Edwards; the Western Range at Vandenberg; and White Sands Missile range.
The ABL aircraft will be based at Edwards and the aircraft flown to the other bases for testing as required.

During flight-tests, the ABL aircraft is accompanied by up to two chase aircraft to monitor the test and the status of the airborne laser aircraft. The aircraft flies at or above 35,000 feet and the laser systems track targets at a horizontal or in an upward direction to minimize potential contact with the ground or other aircraft.

Onboard sensors and pre-test planning confirms that no aircraft or satellites are within the potential path of the beam. Also, only existing military and FAA controlled airspace areas will be used during the tests and they must be confirmed clear of non-participating aircraft during testing activities.

Targets to be used during flight-testing activities include the following:

– a Missile Alternative Range Target Instrument, or MARTI, which is a balloon with a target board attached

– a Proteus aircraft, which is a high-altitude manned aircraft with target board attached

– and target missiles that simulate potential threat missiles

Both low- and high-power tests will be conducted on the MARTI and missile targets. Only lower-power tests would occur with the Proteus aircraft as it is a manned target vehicle.
The tests will evaluate the airborne laser system’s ability to acquire, track and engage targets. Missiles used during the flight-test activities will have a flight termination system to ensure that debris is contained on the range in the event the target missile must be destroyed in flight.
In the event the aircraft is unable to land at Edwards after conducting test activities, preplanned divert bases, like Vandenberg, have been established. The divert bases will have personnel specifically trained to support the ABL aircraft and appropriate equipment to handle ABL hazardous materials.

Flight-testing activities at Vandenberg are expected to trigger the rotation of up to 50 program-related, temporary personnel into and out of here for short periods surrounding each test event.
This rotation will have a small, positive, yet largely unnoticeable effect on population, income, and employment in the area surrounding the base, according to Ken Englade from the airborne laser public affairs office.

There is the potential for impacts to local commercial and recreational fishing in the waters offshore of Vandenberg and below the warning areas of the Western Range, Englade continued.
However, ocean vessels will be notified in advance of launch activity through a notice to mariners to warn vessels of test operations and potential hazards. All efforts are made to ensure that flight corridors are clear of vessels.

Flight-testing activities have the potential for impacts on local recreation activities, because they may require the temporary closure of one or more of the state and county parks in the area surrounding Vandenberg, Englade said.

Vandenberg has established procedures to ensure a safe environment to conduct ABL flight-test activities, according to Englade.

Restricted airspace areas will be controlled according to Eastern and Western Range safety requirements, safety operating instructions, 30th Space Wing regulations and FAA directives and regulations.

A Notice to Mariners and a Notice to Airmen will be disseminated prior to launch activities. Established procedures related to evacuating or sheltering personnel on off-shore oil rigs during launch operations will be implemented.

The state and county beaches potentially affected during launch activities will be closed.
A final decision on the program is expected in the spring of 2003.