Boeing wins $90M laser pod development contract

Boeing on Dec. 15 was awarded $90 million to research and develop a high-energy laser pod, beating out three other companies for the latest contract in the Self-Protect High-Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) program.

Boeing was given $5 million in fiscal year 2017 research, development, test and evaluation funding upon award. A cost-plus, fixed-fee completion task order worth nearly $36 million was also awarded under the same contract, the Pentagon said.

The SHiELD advanced technology demonstration aims to field a defensive laser on a fighter jet. As part of that effort, the Laser Pod Research and Development project intends to address the power, thermal, system control and aerodynamic aspects of outfitting a tactical platform in two phases. The program's first phase will result in a low-power demonstration of the laser's ability to hit a target, followed by a high-power pod operation test.

Work under Boeing's pod contract is slated to run through Dec. 15, 2021.