
The U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) awarded Northrop Grumman [NOC] an initial contract of $53 million to produce a 150-kilowatt-class solid state laser weapon system for naval ship defense, the company said Tuesday.Under a three-phase Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD) contract, Northrop Grumman is to design, produce, integrate, and support the shipboard testing of the laser system. The initial $53 million award supports work planned for the first 12 months. If all options are exercised, the contract cost…