“Stinger airmines out of range,” the computer responded. The AL-52 Dragon kept the built-in defensive weapons of the EB-52 Megafortress, including the Stinger airmines—small guided missiles fired from a cannon in the tail that created clouds of shrapnel in the path of enemy fighters tail-chasing the bomber. But the airmines could only attack targets within two miles of the bomber in the rear quadrant.

“Designate airborne target as TBM target,” Patrick commanded. “Commit Dragon.”

“Stand by,” the computer responded. It was something never attempted—shooting down an aircraft with the airborne laser. Patrick didn’t even know if the programming existed for the attack computer to take a non-TBM, or tactical ballistic missile, target and process a laser attack against it. But he received his answer moments later: The supercockpit display was suddenly filled with the image of the southernmost MiG-29. The laser radar had locked onto the rear one-third of the aircraft, the same spot that it would normally lock onto a missile. “Caution, target velocity data not within limits ”

Patrick remembered that the laser attack computer was programmed to lock onto only fast-moving targets, like ballistic missiles—the MiG was flying much more slowly than a rocket. “Override velocity data.”

There was another long, nervous pause; then: “Caution, target velocity parameters overridden. Laser ready” Patrick zoomed the image in until he was looking directly into the cockpit of the Libyan MiG; then he used his trackball and moved the crosshairs to the left side of the fighter, right on the nose of the largest missile he came across—he remembered that MiG-29s usually fired missiles off the right side first. He could see it clearly: a huge R-27 radar-guided on the number-three hardpoint. “Lock onto target and attack laser,” he commanded.

“Warning, laser attack, stop attack,” the computer said. The Megafortress’s antiaircraft attack logic had taken over for the Dragon’s anti-ballistic missile attack logic and successfully started treating the chlorine-oxygen-iodine laser as another air-launched weapon. Seconds later, the computer reported, “Laserfiring”

The results were spectacular. Less than three seconds after the “laser firing” warning, the R-27 missile on the MiG- 29’s hardpoint exploded in a blinding flash of light. The entire left wing of the lead MiG sheared off in the explosion. Patrick expanded the optronic view on the supercockpit display just in time to watch the Libyan pilot eject from his stricken fighter. The laser radar display showed the second MiG peel off sharply to the north.

“We got it!” Patrick crowed. He quickly locked up the second MiG-29. The supercockpit display now showed the diode laser locked onto the center top fuselage section of the second MiG. “Attack target laser,” he commanded.