Lockheed Senior Leaders Talk Partnerships to Develop Laser Weapons for Military Use

Two Lockheed Martin officials said the company is working with U.S. military branches to develop directed energy systems to help defend military platforms and troops against various threats, National Defense Magazine reported Monday.

Mark Stephen, business development lead for strategic technology development at Lockheed’s missiles and fire control segment, said at a recent media roundtable the defense firm is developing a directed-energy weapon for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator initiative.

He noted that SHiELD, which is being developed to integrate with an aircraft pod, seeks to inform the development of tactical airborne laser requirements by the mid-2020s.

Robb Mansfield, senior manager of business development for laser and sensor systems at Lockheed’s integrated warfare system and sensors business, said at the same event that the weapon’s beam director is slated to undergo testing on the U.S. Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser.

A demonstration on the 300-kilowatt class laser system is scheduled to take place in late 2021, according to the report.