Firm Wins $150-Million ‘Star Wars’ Contract

McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. in Huntington Beach has been awarded a $150-million Army contract to design, build and test a ground-based surveillance and tracking system, the company said Tuesday.

The system, designed to detect and track incoming missiles, is an element of the “Star Wars,” or the Strategic Defense Initiative, program, which envisions developing a ground- or space-based anti-ballistic defense that could destroy incoming nuclear missiles.

The aerospace company already has been working on the system under a $190-million Army contract awarded about a year ago.

McDonnell Douglas has between 60 and 70 people working on the program and does not expect to increase its local employment as a result of the new contract.

“This will extend the life of the jobs we currently have,” said Sheila Carter, a company spokeswoman.