The Boeing Co. [BA] completed preliminary design of a rugged beam control system for the Army High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator (HEL TD) program, a truck-mounted asset that counters rocket, artillery and mortar projectiles.
Boeing performed the work under the HEL TD Phase I contract awarded last year.
The objective of the HEL TD program is to demonstrate that a mobile, solid-state laser weapon system can effectively counter those threats. The program will support the transition to a full-fledged Army acquisition program.
The contract contains options that, if exercised, will call for Boeing to build, integrate and test the beam control system equipped with a command-and-control system on an Army tactical military vehicle, as well as develop the system-engineering requirements for the entire HEL TD system.