REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Dec. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Navy will get a peek at a future where high energy laser weapons could defend its ships against attack under a contract awarded Oct. 22 to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by the Office of Naval Research (ONR).
|
|||||
An artist concept accompanying this release can be found at: http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=38260
Under the three-phase Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD) contract, the company will design, produce, integrate, and support the shipboard testing of a 150-kilowatt-class solid state (electric) laser weapon system.
The initial award of $53 million will support work planned for the next 12 months. The contract could grow to a total value of $91 million over 34 months if ONR exercises all of its contract options.
"Northrop Grumman is integrating the latest in high energy lasers with more than 40 years of experience as a laser weapon system integrator to protect sailors against last-minute, high impact threats," said Guy Renard, director and program manager, directed energy, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "For about the price of a gallon of diesel fuel per shot, we're offering the Navy a high-precision defensive approach that will protect not only its sailors, but also its wallet."
During Phase 1 of the LWSD contract, Northrop Grumman will develop a detailed design for the new system. Phase 2 will include assembly and ground test of the system, while Phase 3 will comprise at-sea testing of the system aboard the Navy's Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS). The Navy will lead this testing with Northrop Grumman providing technical support. The SDTS is the former USS Paul F. Foster (DD-964).
According to Renard, Northrop Grumman's LWSD is well suited to support the Navy's planned initial testing on the SDTS. The company has designed its system to be installed, however, with minimal modification or additional costs, for demonstration on the Navy's DDG-51 FLT II class destroyers.
Future Navy laser weapon systems could eventually protect a wide array of naval platforms from advanced surface and air threats.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
CONTACT: Brooks McKinney, APR
310-812-4964 (office)
310-864-3785 (mobile)
[email protected]


Anthropic Eyes $350 Billion Valuation as AI Funding and Share Sale Accelerate
Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Bellwether Sexual Assault Lawsuit
AMD Shares Slide Despite Earnings Beat as Cautious Revenue Outlook Weighs on Stock
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences
Australian Scandium Project Backed by Richard Friedland Poised to Support U.S. Critical Minerals Stockpile
SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment
Amazon Stock Rebounds After Earnings as $200B Capex Plan Sparks AI Spending Debate
Nintendo Shares Slide After Earnings Miss Raises Switch 2 Margin Concerns
OpenAI Expands Enterprise AI Strategy With Major Hiring Push Ahead of New Business Offering
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Investment Boom Is Just Beginning as NVDA Shares Surge
Nasdaq Proposes Fast-Track Rule to Accelerate Index Inclusion for Major New Listings
SoftBank Shares Slide After Arm Earnings Miss Fuels Tech Stock Sell-Off
Tencent Shares Slide After WeChat Restricts YuanBao AI Promotional Links 



