According to the 2003 APS study of boost-phase ballistic missile defenses, the ABL would have a useful range against liquid fuel ICBMs of about 600 km, and would be capable of protecting the United States from a limited ICBM attack launched from North Korea, but incapable of defending against a similar attack from Iran, unless the United States could station ABLs over the Caspian Sea or Turkmenistan. However, the ABL's range against solid fuel ICBMs would be only about 300 km, insufficient to protect the United States from an ICBM launched from either North Korea or Iran. Moreover, as with other boost-phase ballistic missile defense systems, even where individual ICBMs could be successfully intercepted, salvo launches could prove difficult to handle. As the APS study notes, multiple ABLs might need to be deployed to defend against even a moderate number of multiple launches.

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Kosiak, Steven M. Arming the Heavens: A Preliminary Assessment of the Potential Cost and Cost Effectiveness of Space-Based Weapons. Washington, D.C.: Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, October 31, 2007. [ 19 quotes ] [ page 31 ]