Northrop defense gear meets tests
From Times Wire Services
Northrop Grumman Corp., the largest maker of unmanned aircraft for the military, demonstrated a high-altitude defense that could be installed on unpiloted drones to protect airports against shoulder-fired rockets.
The system successfully detected, tracked and directed a laser to intercept a target missile, said Jack Pledger, director of infrared countermeasures for the Los Angeles aerospace company. The system worked in all three tests at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico this month.
The trials were run under a $6.6-million contract from the U.S. Homeland Security Department.
