Advanced Tactical Laser

In 1996, the blue-beam air-to-ground tactical laser was test-fired from an AC-130 (AC-X Son of Spectre[1]) aircraft at the northern annex of the White Sands Proving Grounds near Fort Wingate, New Mexico.

Raytheon was later awarded the contract to add the High Energy Microwave Weapon to the same platform where both systems would be operationally available for combat use at the same time.

[citation needed] On January 18, 2006, the U.S. Air Force's 46th Test Wing supplied Boeing with a C-130H Hercules transport aircraft for use in the ATL program.

[6] According to a November 5, 2008 article[7] there was a recent Air Force Scientific Advisory Board report stating "the Advanced Tactical Laser testbed has no operational utility."

The system was fired from a 46th Test Wing NC-130H aircraft while flying over White Sands Missile Range, successfully hitting a target board on the ground.