Free-electron laser weapons contract

Sept. 8, 2010

Arlington, VA—Boeing (NYSE: BA) won a $23.7 million US Navy contract for the design of a 100-kW class free-electron laser (FEL) weapon system.

Stephen G. Anderson

Arlington, VA—Boeing (NYSE: BA) is being awarded a $23.7 million contract for the design of a 100-kW class free-electron laser (FEL) weapon system. The U.S. Office of Naval Research is awarding the contract as part of the Navy's Free-Electron Laser (FEL) Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) program.

Under the contract, the Boeing Co. Defense, Space & Security group (Huntsville, AL) will perform critical design of a 100 kW FEL to demonstrate scaleability of the necessary free-electron laser physics and engineering for an eventual megawatt class free electron laser. The naval prototype program will encompass the transition from a demonstrated 14 kW FEL capability, currently at hand, to a weapon class 100-kW class capability.

The desired outcome of this effort, according to the Department of Defense, is to transfer laboratory capability to industry and to assess potential industrial roles in supporting the procurement program for FEL weapon systems. The work is expected to be completed at the end of 2011.

For more information visit the Department of Defense website.

About the Author

Stephen G. Anderson | Director, Industry Development - SPIE

Stephen Anderson is a photonics industry expert with an international background and has been actively involved with lasers and photonics for more than 30 years. As Director, Industry Development at SPIE – The international society for optics and photonics – he is responsible for tracking the photonics industry markets and technology to help define long-term strategy, while also facilitating development of SPIE’s industry activities. Before joining SPIE, Anderson was Associate Publisher and Editor in Chief of Laser Focus World and chaired the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar. Anderson also co-founded the BioOptics World brand. Anderson holds a chemistry degree from the University of York and an Executive MBA from Golden Gate University.