The federal government has granted Ionatron Inc. of Tucson, Ariz., a contract to continue development of its laser-induced plasma channel technology. Specifically, the $9.8 million award will fund creation of an ultrashort-pulse laser, physical modeling related to laser-guided energy requirements, a transportable demonstrator and effects testing. Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratories in New Mexico and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will provide technical development support.