The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded Boeing a potential nine-year, $277 million contract to help develop electro-optics and directed energy technologies to support the Space Electro-Optics Division’s mission of advancing the country’s space superiority capabilities.
The Department of Defense said Monday the company will perform work on the Starfire Electro-Optics, Laser Lab Advancement contract, or STELLA, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, through Oct. 20, 2033.
AFRL is obligating $13.5 million in fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds for the sole-source award.
In October 2022, the service branch issued a request for information for the STELLA contract, which seeks to support the AFRL/RDS mission at Starfire Optical Range at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico and other locations.
According to the RFI, the acquisition’s scope encompasses four areas: program management, system engineering, experiment support and site infrastructure support.