US Seeking Final Demo of Missile-Killing Airborne Laser by 2021

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is requesting funding in 2017 to get to a final end-point demonstration of a missile tracking laser by early next decade, MDA Director Vice Adm. James Syring told the US Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The MDA has requested $90.3 million in 2017 to advance its low power laser demonstrator — an aircraft-mounted sensor and discrimination capability — as part of the ballistic missile defense architecture. The MDA is on a separate timeline for a high-powered laser able to track, discriminate and kill incoming missiles.

"The request that we have for the low-power laser demonstrator, if supported, will get us started down that path to doing a competition for the platform in [20]17, and then some partner will win… and we will get to a flight in 2020 with a final demonstration in 2021," Syring said on Wednesday.