DOD has awarded a $56 million contract to Northrop Grumman to develop military-grade solid-state laser technology that will eventually incorporate high-energy laser systems for all the services, under the Joint High Powered Solid-State Laser program. The lasers would be employed on ships, manned and unmanned aircraft, and ground vehicles.
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.