Boeing Signs Up For Some Major Laser Development

the ray guns are coming

Seattle - Apr 28, 2003
Boeing has been awarded an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ), cost-plus-award-fee letter contract, F33657-03-D-2036, to deliver an Iron Bird test bed in support of the Airborne Laser (ABL) program element.

This test bed will be located at Edwards AFB, California. The period of performance for this award is from April 2003 through April 2013. The value of this contract is not to exceed $500,000,000.

The scope of the initial effort, valued at $190 million, is to develop a permanent ground test facility that may be used to

troubleshoot the ABL,
conduct advanced technology evaluation/validation,
integrate representative ABL subsystems, simulate the fully integrated ABL weapon system,
host Block 08 laser module testing, support integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System testing/war gaming,
and to conduct lethality testing.

The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity (F33657-03-D-2036).

In a separate but related contract Boeing is being awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to develop advanced technologies for incorporation into block 2008 and future block airborne lasers.

The period of performance for this award is from January 2003 through January 2013. The value of this contract is not to exceed $200,000,000.

The initial delivery order under this IDIQ contract, valued at $4,300,000, shall have the contractor perform a feasibility study to evaluate the applicability of alternate technologies using advanced material systems to decrease airborne laser system weight, while maintaining or increasing performance.

The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting organization for both contracts.

TECH SPACE

Florida Creates Photonics Center Of Excellence

Orlando - Mar 19, 2003
The state Board of Education today approved spending $10 million to establish the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence at the University of Central Florida.