David J. Barton
Northrop Grumman Corp. has won a contract to develop a prototype for laser weapons that will serve as the defense system for U.S. Navy ships.
The Navy’s solid state laser technology maturation program is geared toward developing high-power lasers and components for field use, according to a Northrop statement.
Steve Hixson, vice president for directed energy at Northrop’s aerospace systems business, said the company will design an entire laser weapon system to be mounted on destroyers.
“In 2011, Northrop Grumman worked with ONR to demonstrate the first high-energy laser at sea in the Maritime Laser Demonstration,” he added.
“This proved the basic physics and demonstrated that the core technologies were where they needed to be. ONR’s selection of Northrop Grumman for this next step will enable us to help the Navy mature the weapon system for use by sailors in the real world,” Hixson said.
The company previously worked with the Office of Naval Research to demonstrate a maritime laser at sea.
Its Gamma technology introduced last year is used to create smaller and lighter operational solid state lasers.
