Lockheed Martin to continue developing LPDP concept
Lockheed Martin has received a nine month, $25.5 million contract extension from the US Missile Defense Agency to continue development of its Low Power Laser Demonstrator (LPLD) missile interceptor concept, the company announced on 30 October.
The contract is an extension to the one awarded in 2017 to develop an initial LPLD concept. Over the course of the contract, Lockheed Martin will mature its LPLD concept to a tailored critical design review phase, which will bring the design to a level that can support full-scale fabrication.
The LPLD concept consists of a fibre laser system on a high-altitude airborne platform and has been designed to engage missiles during their boost phase – the short window after launch – which is the ideal time to destroy threats before multiple warheads and decoys can be deployed.
Continued LPLD development will take place through July 2019.
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