"The U.S. Army has selected Northrop Grumman Corporation for the first phase of a program to demonstrate the maturity of all enabling technologies for a mobile, solid-state laser weapon system mounted on a ground vehicle," the company said in a statement.

"Called the High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator, or HELTD, the Army's goal for the system is to demonstrate the capability to effectively counter rockets, artillery and mortars -- counter-RAM -- in a relevant environment at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility -- HELSTF -- at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. If deployed, HELTD could support the transition to an Army acquisition program," Northrop Grumman said.

"Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector received a one-year, $8 million contract with options for a total value of nearly $50 million over three years from the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala. Under the phase one contract, Northrop Grumman will develop a preliminary design for a ruggedized beam control subsystem on a tactical vehicle," the company said.

"Northrop Grumman is the industry leader in solid-state high-energy lasers with a long legacy of system experience that can reduce risk and cost -- and we have the only team that has successfully shot down, in flight, the full spectrum of threats," said Alexis Livanos, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector.

"Our continuing investments in high-energy lasers, facilities, system models and concepts of operation clearly demonstrate our strong commitment to bringing mobile laser weapon systems to the war fighter," Livanos said.