Under a contract from the US Air Force's Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., the Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. of Boulder, Colo., will develop a sensor for the A-10 Warthog aircraft, which provides support to ground forces. The company will fabricate a laser spot tracker to determine the position of received laser energy.

Expected to decrease target acquisition time and increase the target acquisition area, the Pave Penny sensor is designed to enhance the reliability and tactical capability of the aircraft. The technology also has potential in applications such as 3-D lidar.

The contract began in September 2004 and is scheduled to run for 27 months.