Monica Jackson
Lockheed Martin will extend its development work on a low power laser demonstrator missile interceptor concept for an autonomous aerial system under a potential nine-month, $25.5M contract modification from the Missile Defense Agency.
Sarah Reeves, vice president for missile defense programs at Lockheed Martin Space, said in a statement published Tuesday that the company will further refine its LPLD concept for beam control, which will help stabilize and control the technology at operationally significant phases.
The effort will help lead to a custom design review phase, which will certify the laser system for full-scale production.
Lockheed will perform the extended LPLD concept development work at its site in Sunnyvale, Calif., through July 2019.
The firm’s proposed design includes a fiber laser system that will destroy missiles a few moments after they are launched before they can deploy warheads and decoys.
The extended work builds on the original contract that Lockheed received in 2017, increasing the value of the agreement to $34.9M.
Lockheed is widening its advanced technology capabilities such as in laser device, beam control and platform integration via investments in systems like the Advanced Test High Energy Asset or the Laser Advancements for Next-generation Compact Environments program for the Air Force Research Laboratory.
