Airborne Laser
An airborne laser (ABL) is a laser system operated from a flying platform, as in the: Soviet/Russian Beriev A-60 (1981, destroyed on November 25, 2025) American Boeing YAL-1 (2002-2012, scrapped) An American modified NKC-135A unit (1975-1984, in storage.) == Development == Development of airborne lasers in the United States began with the Airborne Laser Laboratory (ALL) developed at the USAF Weapons Lab (AFWL), now known as Phillips Laboratory, in the late 1970's and early 1980's. The ALL was based on a carbon dioxide gas dynamic laser (GDL), operating at the infrared wavelength of 10.6 microns, and mounted on a modified Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (NC-135).