A team formed between General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Boeing has secured a contract to develop a ‘distributed gain high-energy laser weapon system’.
The contract has been awarded by the US Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.
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It will see the team deliver a 300kW-class solid-state distributed gain laser, which features an integrated Boeing beam director.
The contract is aimed at demonstrating the design of the laser weapon system prototype.
Both GA-EMS and Boeing will use their respective expertise in ‘Directed Energy’ to provide troops with safe and efficient combat-ready protection.
GA-EMS noted that the laser system will use the company’s scalable ‘distributed gain laser’ technology combined with precision acquisition, tracking, and pointing software offered by Boeing.
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By GlobalDataTogether, the companies will provide a full demonstrator with ‘sophisticated laser and beam control’.
GA-EMS president Scott Forney said: “The high power, compact laser weapon subsystem prototype that GA-EMS will deliver under this contract will produce a lethal output greater than anything fielded to date.
“This technology represents a leap-ahead capability for air and missile defence that is necessary to support the army’s modernisation efforts and defeat next-generation threats in a multi-domain battlespace.”
According to GA-EMS lasers and advanced sensors vice-president Michael Perry, the laser is a packaged version of the seventh generation of the company’s Distributed Gain Design, which had already been demonstrated.
Perry said that the laser system features two laser heads and comes in a lightweight package.
Boeing Missile and Weapon Systems division vice-president and general manager Cindy Gruensfelder said: “We’re excited to take the next step in delivering this critical capability to the army.
“Our joint offering will leverage proven, deployed technologies to provide an industry-leading solution on an accelerated timeline.”
