Oct 1 2010
Northrop Grumman, a global security company, will leverage the success of high-energy solid-state lasers, to boost the electric laser technology by enhancing the systems’ efficiency for military applications. The Robust Electric Laser Initiative (RELI), a U.S. Department of Defense program, will allow the development of the laser technology.
The RELI is the first step in the development of advanced military laser technology for compact, lightweight, and efficient systems. The Army Strategic Forces Command / Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Alabama, has awarded an $8.8 million, two-year contract to Northrop Grumman, with options to extend the contract to a five year for $53.3 million.
The objective of the RELI program is to improve the system efficiency to above 30%, and to produce a better beam quality with 25 kW power level. The power level can be scaled to 100kW, and all these features will be available on a military platform. The High Energy Laser-Joint Technology Office in collaboration with the Office of Naval Research, Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Army Space and Missile Defense Command / Army Strategic Forces Command, has funded the RELI program.
Source: http://www.northropgrumman.com/