Army to hold industry day in April for high-energy laser solutions

The Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office and Directed Energy Project Office are seeking high-energy laser solutions that can address Group 3 unmanned aerial system threats.

The service will hold an industry day in early April at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, according to a Feb. 6 government notice.

The directed-energy office wants to increase the ability of high-energy lasers to address Group 3 UAS threats, and will “asses the operationalized maturity” of industry solutions at the subsystem level, which includes the beam-control system, beam director, power/thermal systems and threat tracker, according to the notice. The system is to demonstrate a modular, open-system architecture, it states.

The Pentagon defines Group 3 UAS as those weighing between 55 and 1,320 pounds, and that operate at flight level.

Following the vendor demonstration, the government plans to issue a solicitation to develop a high-energy laser prototype solution, the notice states.

Companies are asked to submit a two-page summary and quad chart to the contacting officer by Feb. 21.