Funds OKd for Missile Defense Program

The Air Force announced the awarding of the first portion of a $3-billion contract to research whether space-based lasers can shoot down long-range missiles. A group led by Seattle-based Boeing Co. received the first $125-million installment of the contract. The two other contract team members are Cleveland-based TRW Inc.’s Redondo Beach operation and Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin Corp.’s missiles and space group in Sunnyvale, Calif. The initial work is scheduled to be completed in 18 months to two years at the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center in El Segundo. The objective is to research the feasibility of a space-based laser system, develop ground, flight and space technologies and then conduct a demonstration, the Air Force said. Officials were careful to say the program is in compliance with the Antiballistic Missile Treaty between the U.S. and Russia. The treaty bars development of a national space-based ABM defense system. Instead, the project will simply test technologies, the officials said.