Despite budgetary setbacks, the industry team for the Air Force’s Airborne Laser program continues progress in testing the weapon. Northrop Grumman has completed power and duration testing of ABL’s megawatt-class chemical laser, otherwise known as COIL for Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser. The company also has delivered COIL’s compatriot the Beacon Illuminator Laser, or just plain BILL. BILL illuminates the spot on a target missile and measure the distortion caused by air turbulence, allowing COIL to compensate and make corrections. The YAL-1A aircraft is currently in Wichita, Kan., for final modifications before the installation of the COIL and upcoming ground and flight-testing for the BILL.
Sikorsky is pitching a modified "U-Hawk" version of older UH-60 Black Hawk series helicopters as autonomous resupply aircraft with additional capabilities as missile or drone swarm launchers.
