Northrop Grumman Achieves Two Milestones Toward Integrating High-Energy Laser With Missile Defense Agency’s Airborne Laser Aircraft
Redondo Beach, CA — Northrop Grumman Corporation has achieved two milestones that helped prepare the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft for integration of the Northrop Grumman-developed high-energy laser. Both accomplishments contributed to MDA’s success in meeting its fifth and final “Knowledge Point” or milestone for 2007 covering high-power systems integration readiness, continuing recent program progress.
Northrop Grumman’s Space Technology sector completed inspection and refurbishment of the components and parts that compose the Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL), a megawatt-class laser the company designed and built for the ABL program. In conjunction with The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA), ABL’s prime contractor, Northrop Grumman also completed extensive engineering drawings for the installation of the laser. The drawings incorporate streamlined processes and other improvements learned during ground tests concluded in 2005.
“These achievements represent outstanding progress toward providing our nation with a mobile, speed-of-light capability to attack ballistic missiles during their boost phase,” said Alexis Livanos, corporate vice president and president of the company’s Space Technology sector.
