Northrop Grumman has opened the “first of its kind by private industry in the US” high-energy laser facility dedicated solely to military systems, states a company release. The Directed Energy Production Facility at Redondo Beach, Calif., will produce “powerful military lasers” that have “the potential to transform the way we equip our armed forces,” said Alexis Livanos, president of Northrop’s space technology sector.
While the Pentagon has signaled its intent to scale technology, field new systems faster, and work more with nontraditional vendors, a new report identifies persistent manufacturing capacity, resourcing, workforce, and modernization challenges that could hinder its ability to deliver on those goals.