US Army grants BlueHalo $94,5 million contract for Direct Energy Prototyping

The US Army has granted BlueHalo a $94,5 million contract to support its ongoing Laser Technology Research Development and Optimization (LARDO) program, which aims to develop direct energy weapons against aerial drones and similar systems. Through this project, the US Army is investing in the rapid innovation and maturation of the nation’s laser weapon capabilities, and under the new contract, the company will improve the efficiency, performance, automation, and ruggedization of its directed energy solutions for the army, leveraging its experiences in developing counter-unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS). As stated by BlueHalo Chief Technology Officer Dr. Vikram Manikonda, the solutions offered by BlueHalo are interoperable and designed with extreme care for the warfighter, providing the Army with a full system of systems to mature the use of laser weapons to meet national security demands.