
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) plans to competitively award two contracts in fiscal year 2017 to integrate and test a lower power version of an airborne laser demonstrator for use in missile defense, according to an agency official.MDA Program Executive for Advanced Technology Richard Matlock said Wednesday the goal is to eventually develop a high-power solid state laser on a long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operating in the stratosphere, where atmospheric disturbance to the aircraft and the laser is significantly…