Back in the early 80s, Soviet engineers began outfitting an Ilyushin-76 jet with a laser cannon. Two models of the Falcon-Echelon planes were flown presumably as counterweights to U.S. efforts to construct a fleet of missile-zapping jets. But when the Soviet Union collapsed, the Falcon-Echelon program perished, as well.
Or so it seemed at the time. Now, theres mounting evidence that the Russian military has revived the Soviet-era laser project. And in this new incarnation, according to The Space Review, the ray gun is aimed up toward American satellites.
A statement given to the Interfax news agency last year provides further evidence. According to an unnamed official, the A-60 system is designed to transmit laser energy to remote sites in order to counter the infrared opto-electronic tools of the enemy. In other words, the laser is supposed to blind American spy satellites.
The notion isnt as fanciful as it sounds. Back in 1984, the Soviets trained a laser on the Space Shuttle Challenger, which it believed to be an orbiting spy. The laser caused malfunctions on the Space Shuttle and distress to the crew, according toJanes Intelligence Review. More recently, in 2006, China fired ground-based lasers at American satellites, temporarily obscuring the vision of the eyes above the sky.
Pictures of the resuscitated Russian laser jet began surfacing in 2009. By the summer of 2010, Pravda was openly touting the development of a military airborne laser system based on the Ilyushin-76and designed to counter enemy intelligence means in different environments. Russian boss-for-life Vladimir Putin began talking about equipping Israeli drones with space and laser technology.
Its not clear how far along Russian ray gun tech really is. But, ironically, the A-60 program appears to be heating up as the U.S. Airborne Laser Test Bed is cooling down.
Look Out Above! Russia May Target U.S. Sats With Laser Jet | WIRED