Lockheed Martin has agreed to build a laser weapon system for the U.S. Army under a new research and development deal to help protect warfighters, Breaking Defense reported Wednesday.
Sydney Freedberg Jr. writes Lockheed will demonstrate the laser system against drones and mortar in a live-fire test set to take place at White Sands Missile Range in the summer of 2016.
Lt. Gen. David Mann, head of Space and Missile Defense Command, told reporters at the Space & Missile Defense conference in Alabama that he wants other companies to take part in the test, according to the report.
Mann said SMDC is “opening the aperture to allow other industry partners to show us what they can bring to the table,†Freedberg reports.