[Maringa]

The thing I don't understand is this: if this is a defensive weapon, is it going to be practical to have these 747's flying around the clock over enemy territory? How would the enemy allow these aircraft to overfly their territory? What is the range of these weapons?

[hchutch]

It's called air surpemacy. The F-22 and the F-16 will clean out the bad guys within hours. Then, the ABLs can set up shop. A more powerful laser would be a good thing, though...

[wjcsux]

I am working with team ABL for the AF. The ABL will stand off out of harms way.

[ArrogantBustard]

What is the range... ?

Nobody seems to say... Here"'s the FAS page on the topic; Boeing has a web site here. Lots of pretty pictures and nice words, but not a syllable I can find about the range. Maybe they won't know for sure until they get it airborne and try it out, but they must have some goal.

AB

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

From the article: "The USAF wants the ABL to have a lethal range of at least 200 miles (320km)."