BMD Watch: NG wins MDA ATILL laser deal

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman said Tuesday it has won a U.S. Missile Defense Agency contract "for the second phase of a five-and-a-half year program to develop the Advanced Track Illuminator Laser -- ATILL -- a six-kilowatt-class, solid-state, pulsed laser with excellent beam quality for advanced MDA missions."

"The entire four-phase program will support MDA and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory -- MIT/LL --in building the next generation Cryo Yb:YAG --ytterbium: yttrium aluminum garnet -- solid-state laser track illuminator while significantly improving packaging density and electrical efficiency," the company said.

Northrop Grumman said that during Phase 1 of the contract, it "supported the MIT/LL effort with laser system modeling and analysis, performed trade studies and presented options at a conceptual design review in December. Following the 12 months of Phase 2, MDA will down-select to a single industry partner for the remaining two phases. The fourth phase will culminate in 2012 with delivery to the government of a flight-qualifiable brass-board laser system."

"ATILL is the latest example of Northrop Grumman's technological leadership in solid-state laser innovation," said Alexis Livanos, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector. "As the industry leader in solid-state high-energy laser development and packaging, Northrop Grumman is uniquely capable of delivering the highest quality product with low risk."

"During Phase 1, the Northrop Grumman team conducted a four-month study focusing on system engineering and design trade-offs for the development of a packaged brass-board laser and participated in the technology transfer effort at MIT/LL. Brass-board design analysis and technology transfer with MIT/LL will continue through Phases 2 and 3, with fabrication, integration and testing of the brass-board conducted in Phase 4," the company said.

"ATILL is another opportunity to continue our leadership in high power solid-state laser illuminators," said Dan Wildt, vice president of directed energy systems at Northrop Grumman's space technology sector. "Our previous experience in developing the ABL Beacon Illuminator and our recent, directly relevant experience on MDA's Strategic Illuminator Laser program demonstrates the technology and packaging capability needed for success on ATILL."

Northrop Grumman' said its "expertise in high power solid-state lasers, combined with the advanced capabilities of Northrop Grumman's teammate, Q-Peak Inc., provides an exceptional capability to successfully execute the ATILL program."

"Q-Peak Inc., located in Bedford, Mass., has built the second most powerful Cryo Yb:YAG laser to date and shares a similar legacy in solid-state experience as Northrop Grumman. Combined, the ATILL team averages 27 years of laser experience," Northrop Grumman said.

"Northrop Grumman and Q-Peak Inc. are laser technology experts and have proven to be an outstanding team to support MIT/LL and transition the ATILL Breadboard to a packaged Brass-board Laser System," said Wildt.

Northrop Grumman said it had "been a leader in developing and demonstrating high-energy lasers for more than 30 years."

AML wins MEADS amplifier order

AML Communications said Friday it has won a contract from Lockheed Martin to make pre-production amplifiers for the Medium Extended Air Defense program.

"MEADS is a mobile air and missile defense system designed to replace Patriot systems in the United States and Germany and the Nike Hercules systems in Italy," AML said.

"MEADS will provide capabilities beyond any other fielded or planned air and missile defense system. It will be easily deployed to a theater of operations and once there, will keep pace with fast-moving maneuver forces. When completed, MEADS will be the only air and missile defense system able to roll off tactical transports with the troops and almost immediately begin operations," the company said.

"More importantly, its open architecture will provide for 21st century air and missile defense system-of-system integration capabilities that allow operational mission-tailoring for homeland defense or defense of maneuver forces. MEADS will also provide greater firepower with less manpower than current systems, producing dramatic operation and support cost savings," AML said.

"In May 2005, MEADS International -- MI -- signed a definitive contract valued at $2 billion for MEADS design and development. A multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, FL, MI's participating companies are MBDA Italia, Lenkflugkorpersysteme -- LFK -- in Germany and Lockheed Martin in the United States," the statement said.

The Special Weapons Monitor of the Federation of American Scientists describes MEADS as "a transatlantic cooperative effort between the United States, Germany, and Italy to develop an air and missile defense system that is tactically mobile and transportable. It will be capable of countering tactical ballistic missiles and air-breathing threats, including cruise missiles."

"MEADS will improve the limited area defense of vital assets, both civilian and military, as well as provide capability to move with and protect the maneuver forces. MEADS will provide coalition forces with a system capability that is currently not available: a weapon system that can be deployed where it is needed with the versatility to provide force and asset protection during all phases of military operations. It will be employed either in combination with other systems as part of an integrated air defense, or individually in stand-alone operations," the SWM said.