HERNDON, Va., Dec. 10 -- Northrop Grumman Corp. has been awarded a five-year, $45 million contract by the US Air Force Materiel Command to conduct research into the physiological effects on personnel of exposure to laser radiation and how it affects visual performance.
These research areas, including laser safety, vision science, laser eye protection and personnel susceptibility, are significant to the safe testing and use of major laser weapon systems, Northrup Grumman said. Work on this program will be performed at Northrop Grumman Information Technology (IT) in San Antonio, Texas.
Northrop Grumman IT will investigate phenomena associated with the interaction of laser beams and biological systems. The company will establish safe limits for laser exposure and will develop and test laser eye protection media. IT will also create models of visual performance in the presence of laser illumination and develop software tools that will enable safe testing of very high-energy laser weapon systems.
Northrop Grumman IT team members for this program include Veridian; Mobium Enterprises; Conceptual MindWorks Inc.; University of Texas, San Antonio; Science and Engineering Associates; and Georgia Tech Research Institute.
For more information, visit: www.northropgrumman.com