Military Aerospace:
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Power electronics experts at two U.S. defense companies are moving forward with a project to develop enabling technologies for laser weapons on future unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to destroy enemy ballistic missiles in boost phase.
Officials of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in Albuquerque, N.M., announced contract modifications Friday to General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems in San Diego, and to the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in Huntsville, Ala., to push forward with the Low Power Laser Demonstrator (LPLD) project.
LPLD seeks to develop enabling technologies in preparation for building a future high-energy laser weapon for a high-altitude UAV able to destroy enemy ballistic missiles in boost phase. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems on Friday won a $23.4 million contract extension, and Boeing won a $20.5 million extension for follow-on work to the first phase of the LPLD project.
