DATE= 10/2/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-220729 TITLE=U-S LASER TEST (S) BYLINE=REBECCA MCMENAMIN DATELINE=PENTAGON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN HAS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD FOR A CONTROVERSIAL TEST IN WHICH A GROUND-BASED LASER WILL BE FIRED AT AN AGING MILITARY SATELLITE. VOA'S REBECCA MCMENAMIN HAS THIS REPORT ON WHAT WILL BE THE FIRST EXPERIMENT OF ITS KIND. TEXT: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIMENT IS TO TEST THE VULNERABILITY OF U-S SATELLITES TO LASERS -- SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CRITICAL IN TIMES OF WARFARE GIVEN THE INCREASING DEPENDENCY ON SPACE PROBES FOR COMMUNICATIONS. THE GROUND-BASED LASER, OPERATED BY U-S FORCES IN THE WESTERN STATE OF NEW MEXICO, WILL INITIALLY FIRE BRIEF ILLIMUNATIONS TO LOCATE THE SATELLITE. THEN IT WILL ILLUMINATE THE PROBE FOR LESS THAN 10 SECONDS TO TEST THE IMPACT OF THE LASER BEAM. THE EXPERIMENT IS TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, IF WEATHER PERMITS. DEFENSE SPOKESMEN SAY THE TEST IS FULLY CONSISTENT WITH U-S POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. HOWEVER, CRITICS ARGUE THE LASER TEST COULD FUEL A NEW SPACE-BASED ARMS RACE -- REMINISCENT OF THE COLD WAR. THE DECISION TO GO AHEAD WITH THE TEST WAS ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF A NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS' MEETING IN THE DUTCH CITY OF MAASTRICHT. BILLED AS INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS, THE TALKS HAVE FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE ROLE OF NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA -- AND NATO EXPANSION. (SIGNED) NEB/RJM/KL 02-Oct-97 10:47 AM EDT (1447 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .