During laser firings in September at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., the Laser Avenger engaged and destroyed five targets representing IED and UXO threats. The laser was shown to be effective at ranges that allowed the system to be operated at safe distances from the target.

Developed in only eight months, Laser Avenger is the latest in a series of upgrades to expand the Avenger air-defense system into an agile multi-role weapon system (AMWS) with ground-to-ground as well as ground-to-air capabilities. The laser was added while retaining Avenger's ability to carry other weapons, including missiles and a machine gun. The laser will also have uses beyond the counter-IED, counter-UXO mission. For example, it could be upgraded to have a shoot-on-the-move capability and to destroy other kinds of targets, including low-flying UAVs.

"Laser Avenger marries the best of Boeing -- our proven Avenger system with the great capabilities of Boeing's directed energy business unit," said Debra Rub-Zenko, vice president of Boeing Integrated Missile Defense. "Adding a laser to the Avenger arsenal expands the capability of this flexible system to meet battlefield requirements today and tomorrow."

For more information, visit www.boeing.com/ids/mds

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