AFRL to award Raytheon sole-sourced contract for directed-energy weapon

The Air Force Research Laboratory is sole sourcing an 18-month contract to Raytheon to experiment with the company's directed-energy weapon prototype called the Counter-Electronic High Power Microwave Extended Range Air Base Air Defense (CHIMERA).

The award marks another victory for Raytheon's directed-energy portfolio after winning contracts last year to supply the Air Force with its High-Energy Laser Weapon System and Phaser, a high-powered microwave, for overseas testing.

A notice the Air Force released today announcing the new contract action doesn't indicate the value of the award or when the service expects to begin and finalize negotiations with Raytheon. The government is using authorities for "other than full and open competition" to sole-source the deal.

Tests with CHIMERA will occur at White Sands Missile Range, NM, Kirtland Air Force Base, NM, and Raytheon facilities. It's not clear when experimentation will begin.