The Missile Defense Agency last week released a video of the Airborne Laser test aircraft engaging a target missile with its high-energy kill laser during a non-lethal test on Jan. 10 off of the California coast. According to MDA, this exercise “demonstrated the full functionality of the ABL system to successfully acquire, track, and engage a boosting target.” The purpose of this test was not to shoot down the instrumented target missile, but rather collect data on the performance of the ABL’s high-energy laser in support of the preparations for the first lethal missile-shootdown attempt later this year. (To see the video, go to MDA’s Airborne Laser news gallery.)
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.