WILMINGTON, Mass., Feb. 17, 2006 -- Textron Systems, a high-power laser developer for the defense industry, announced yesterday that it has been awarded a contract by US Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command to develop and demonstrate high-power solid-state laser technology. The contract supports the Joint Technology Office's Joint High Power Solid State Laser Program (J-HPSSL) Phase III project to develop a laboratory-demonstrated 100 kW solid-state laser within a three-year period for use by the US military. The initial contract, signed in December, is currently valued at $10 million; with options, its value could increase to $30 million. The contract is funded by the Joint Technology Office, an arm of the US Department of Defense (DoD) that functions as the DoD's advocate for high-energy laser (HEL) technology development and funds high priority science and technology activities supporting future HEL weapon requirements. The goal of the J-HPSSL program is to demonstrate integration of scaleable subsystem technologies at the laboratory level into a 100 kW-class solid-state laser system to give military personnel the ability to end engagements more quickly and to hit targets more accurately from further away while inflicting low collateral damage. For more information, visit: www.textron.com