Lockheed Martin awarded contract to develop new Death Star for US military - US Army awarded $221m to develop laser weapons

The US Army wants a new laser weapon. It will be developed by Lockheed Martin, a proven defence contractor.

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The US Army needs the technology to protect fixed and semi-permanent infrastructure from airborne threats. The service wants a high-energy laser to defeat drones, cruise missiles, planes and helicopters.

Lockheed Martin has been awarded $221 million to develop the laser weapon. Work under the contract will take place at the US company's facilities in Washington, New York, New Jersey and Florida. The prototype is expected to be ready by October 2025.

Lockheed Martin already has several such systems in its portfolio. For example, this winter the company tested a 50 kW DEIMOS laser weapon for Stryker wheeled armoured personnel carriers. Last year, Lockheed gave the Pentagon a 300 kW HELSI laser and began delivering HELIOS systems for ships.

Source: Pentagon