Armored Vehicle Would Use Laser

Northrop Grumman Corp., the third-largest U.S. defense company, is joining with United Defense Industries Inc., maker of the Bradley fighting vehicle, to design an armored vehicle with a laser to defend against attack.

The battery-powered, solid-state laser would be used to destroy enemy rockets, artillery and mortar shells, Northrop spokesman Bob Bishop said.

The technology-sharing agreement is for three years, he said, declining to disclose other terms.

The two companies are funding research on the weapon in hopes of selling it to the U.S. Army for use with its Future Combat Systems of armored vehicles, Bishop said. At an estimated cost of $120 billion, the Boeing Co.-led Future Combat Systems is the Pentagon’s second-most-costly program behind Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Joint Strike Fighter.

“We have been developing solid-state lasers for a number of years, making great progress in maturing the technology,” Bishop said. “There is no government contract to support this right now. This would allow us to compete for future Army programs.”

The laser is being developed by Century City-based Northrop, while United Defense will contribute a prototype of a hybrid diesel-and-electric-powered vehicle to carry the weapon, United Defense spokesman Jeff Van Keuren said.

The weapon will require an electrical power source, which the hybrid engine could supply, he said.

Northrop shares rose 27 cents to $57.75.

Shares of Arlington, Va.-based United Defense fell 94 cents to $46.06. Both trade on the New York Stock Exchange.