US to test combat laser by end of year

US weapons maker Northrop Grumman Corp said it had completed the preliminary design review for a high-energy laser that would have several defense applications if scaled, Report informs, citing Reuters.

The company had last year won a $72 million contract from the US Department of Defense (DoD) to demonstrate a high-energy laser prototype.

Developing higher-powered lasers that can track and focus energy on a moving target has been a long-time goal for the DoD with possible applications for missile defense systems.

Northrop said it would test the prototype at progressively higher powers later this year.