Textron Systems Corporation, an operating division of Textron subsidiary Avco Corporation, announced Thursday it has been awarded the $49.9 million contract.
The contract from is from Lidar Applications for Vehicles with Analysis (LAVA) task ordering contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Awarded under a competitive procurement, this five-year program will enable the U.S. Air Force and Textron Systems to develop technology to support USAF assets and test sites for prototyping and understanding the role of non-weapons class lasers, laser radars, laser sensing, remote sensing and measurement systems, target acquisition and tracking, and general imaging systems.
Textron Systems will further the development of airborne sensor packages to support fire control missions and will continue development of high-power laser radar systems to support long-range tracking and identification of space objects.
In addition, the program will operate and upgrade the Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS) laser radars and imaging capabilities for ground-to-space and ground-to ground laser radar missions.
Testing will take place at the Maui Space Surveillance Site on top Mt. Haleakala in Hawaii. Atmospheric conditions there are similar to those found at airborne operating altitudes, greatly benefiting research, development, and testing initiatives. Textron Systems Hawaii Operations will act as center of the LAVA activities.
Textron is headquartered in Providence.
