Airborne laser downs missile

Boeing and Northrop Grumman may be locked in battle over the Air Force tanker project, but they were both cheering a test where a Boeing 747 equipped with a Northrop Grumman laser gun shot down a missile over the Pacific late Thursday night. It was a milestone in the development of the nation's missile defense system. (Sources: Multiple, including Los Angeles Times, Reuters, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, 02/12/10) Gulf Coast note: Both companies have operations along the Gulf Coast region.