HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The Airborne Laser missile defense system successfully tracked and hit the mark earlier this month during its first in-flight test against an instrumented target missile, according to Boeing and the Missile Defense Agency.

The news came today, just a few days before the 12th annual Space and Missile Defense Conference opens next week in Huntsville.

During the Aug. 10 test, the modified Boeing 747-400F prototype aircraft took off from Edwards Air Force Base and used its infrared sensors to find a target missile launched from San Nicolas Island, Calif.

The Boeing-developed battle management system aboard ABL then issued engagement and target location instructions to the beam control/fire control system, which acquired the target and fired two solid-state illuminator lasers to track it and measure atmospheric conditions.

ABL then fired a surrogate high-energy laser at the target, simulating a missile intercept. Instrumentation on the target verified the laser hit the missile.

"This test demonstrates that the Airborne Laser can fully engage an in-flight missile with its battle management and beam control/fire control systems," said Michael Rinn, Boeing vice president and ABL program director.

MDA said this test marks the third successful ABL missile engagement in just over two months and the first time laser performance

data was collected at the target missile. Plans call for ABL to engage progressively more difficult targets in coming months, culminating with a lethal

demonstration against a boosting threat-representative ballistic missile target later this year.

Boeing is the prime contractor and overall systems integrator for ABL, and provides the modified aircraft and battle management system. Northrop Grumman supplies the high-energy laser, and Lockheed Martin provides the beam control/fire control system.