55-3132 is one of two Boeing NKC-135E “Big Crow” testbed aircraft that in their twilight years acted as a surrogate targets for the Boeing YAL-1A airborne laser missile defense program. The Big Crow aircraft had a black and white “signboard” target painted on the side of the left forward fuselage that acted as a target for the YAL-1A during its development program. ⠀ ⠀ The Big Crow aircraft were also used as telemetry assets in conjunction with test launches from Vandenberg AFB in California. ⠀ ⠀ In 2007, the YAL-1A successfully tracked and targeted the Big Crow in flight, demonstrating the ability of the laser system to compensate for atmospheric distortion. Despite further successful tests against missile targets, the YAL-1A concept simply lacked the laser power to be an effective form of interception during the boost phase of a missile launch- the range of the main laser made operational deployment difficult as a laser of 30 times more power would have been more useful operationally. ⠀ ⠀ USAF testing had showed the if the YAL-1A system were to intercept a ballistic missile fired by Iran, it would have to be orbiting *inside* Iranian airspace to successfully intercept a missile launch. And that was before getting into the number of aircraft needed to provide continuous airborne patrol near potential launch sides.⠀ ⠀ In 2011, the YAL-1A program was canceled, but the 55-3132 and its sister 63-8050 were retired to AMARC at Davis Monthan AFB. ⠀ ⠀ November Aviation Photo Challenge | @kjdphoto1971 | #1119planes | “Black and White” | Day 28⠀ ⠀ #avgeek #aviation #aircraft #planeporn #Tucson #DavisMonthan #AMARC #Arizona #airport #planespotting #instaplane #instagramaviation #Boeing #KC135 #NKC135 #BigCrow #Stratotanker #USAF #mil_aviation_originals #instaaviation #aviationlovers #aviationphotography #flight #AvgeekSchoolofKnowledge #AvGeekNation (at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5aPCsGB_fs/?igshid=1egd8xpredbzn
