Earlier in October, the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) gave Northrop Grumman a $53 million contract for the Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD) program.
![39412[1]](http://alert5.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/394121.jpg)
Source: Northrop Grumman
The company’s press statements says the project is to develop a 150-kilowatt-class solid state (electric) laser weapon system that will eventually be tested on the Navy’s Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS), former USS Paul F. Foster (DD-964).