US delays missile-zapping laser test for fourth time

An intercept test of an anti-missile laser onboard a converted Boeing 747 aircraft has been postponed for a fourth time because of technical problems, the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency said Sunday.

"Troubleshooting indicates that a hot bypass valve on the aircraft is in an abnormal condition, thus not allowing for proper component cooling," the agency said in a statement on its website. "The team is evaluating the potential causes."

The test involving the Airborne Laser Test Bed was to have taken place Sunday morning off the California coast. A new date for the experiment will be set for the coming week, the announcement said.

The goal is to destroy a simulated enemy ballistic missile in flight more than 160 kilometers away, or about twice the range demonstrated in a maiden test on February 11 using a chemical oxygen iodine laser aboard the jumbo jet.

The laser heats the boosting ballistic missile's skin, weakening it and causing failure from high-speed flight stress.

Experts said it could have potential use against enemy fighter aircraft, cruise missiles or even low-earth-orbit satellites.

Reuters