A beam control system for enhanced accuracy of laser weapons on warships is to be designed and developed by Boeing under a U.S. Navy contract.

Boeing said the High Power Beam Control Subsystem, or HP BCSS, will be compatible with high energy lasers using solid-state laser technology and that it envisions a system that will be compatible with laser systems other companies are designing for the Office of Naval Research's Solid State Laser Technology Maturation program.

The system would focus and hold a laser on a moving aimpoint, no easy task in a maritime environment and ship movements.

The beam control system to be developed will capitalize on the company's work with the U.S. Army's High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator, which last year acquired, tracked and destroyed targets in windy and foggy conditions.

"Boeing innovations in beam control and directed energy technologies are keys to understanding laser weapon system configurations that could yield a capability for the Navy in their maritime environment," said Peggy Morse, vice president, Boeing Directed Energy & Strategic Systems.

The contract from the Navy is worth $29.5 million.