BlueHalo Wins Directed Energy Contract Worth $95.4 Million

The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) recently awarded BlueHalo a $95.4 million contract for advanced directed energy (DE) prototype development as part of the Aerospace and Missile Technology Consortium's (AMTC) Laser Technology Research Development and Optimization (LARDO) program.
The contract enables BlueHalo to continue designing and building cutting-edge laser weapon systems for warfighters with multiple prototypes featuring greater automation, efficiency, performance and robustness, as well as improved size, weight and power (SWAP).
Dr. Vikram Manikonda, BlueHalo's Chief Technology Officer, said, "We are developing the tools to win the next war so there won't be a next war. We are expanding and accelerating BlueHalo's air defense innovations, not only in directed energy technologies, but also in diagnostic and surveillance monitoring systems that enable them to be sustained, operated and continuously improved in the field. Our solutions are interoperable and designed with great care for the warfighter, providing the Army with a complete system to mature the use of laser weapons to meet our national security needs."
Utilizing BlueHalo's advances in counter-unmanned aircraft (C-UAS) technology and lessons learned through the active deployment of the LOCUST laser system, BlueHalo will conduct ongoing system performance improvements, research and prototyping to improve performance and durability and increase lethality against small unmanned aerial systems ((sUAS) and similar threats.
"Through the LARDO program, the U.S. Army is investing in the rapid innovation and maturation of our nation's laser weapons capabilities," said Trip Ferguson, COO of BlueHalo, which deploys its LOCUST laser system overseas to provide multi-domain mission success for drone threat elimination and force protection. We are honored that the U.S. Army continues to trust BlueHalo to provide superior directed energy technology and air defense innovation."
The LOCUST system combines precision optics and laser hardware with advanced software, artificial intelligence (AI) and processing to enable and enhance the directed energy "kill chain," which includes tracking, identifying and striking a wide range of targets with its hard kill HEL.