DOD has awarded a $56 million contract to Northrop Grumman to develop military-grade solid-state laser technology that will eventually incorporate high-energy laser systems for all the services, under the Joint High Powered Solid-State Laser program. The lasers would be employed on ships, manned and unmanned aircraft, and ground vehicles.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.