Boeing announces beam control contract
Boeing has won a contract for developing a beam control system that could be used to provide accuracy for laser weapons on US Navy warships, the company announced on 17 February.
Under the contract, Boeing will design and develop a prototype High Power Beam Control Subsystem (HP BCSS) compatible with solid-state High Energy Lasers (HEL). The prototype will be compatible with systems that are being developed for the Office of Naval Research's (ONR's) solid state laser technology maturation programme.
The beam control system will focus and hold a laser on a moving aimpoint for long enough to disable the target - a challenge, given the constant motion of the maritime environment.
The contract will capitalise on work performed by Boeing with the US Army's HEL Mobile Demonstrator (MD), which underwent successful demonstrations at Eglin air force base in Florida in 2014.
During these demonstrations, the HEL MD acquired, tracked and destroyed targets in foggy and windy conditions. ONR shared technical data on energy systems in maritime environments with Boeing and the army. In recent testing, the HEL MD also disabled unmanned aerial vehicles and mortars.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear]()
Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.
-
![US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes]()
US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes
The US Navy (USN) is currently reassessing its acquisition efforts and seeking ways to reduce the multiple delays across the shipbuilding initiatives.
-
![Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule]()
Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule
The Royal Australian Navy has finally commissioned the first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel – more than three years behind schedule – highlighting the programme’s delays, design compromises and ongoing industrial restructuring.
-
![Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates]()
Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates
The Italian Navy is being refreshed with two new ships ordered, while in the past six months steel was cut for a new frigate, an enhanced frigate was delivered and Horizon-class frigates passed a design review.
