The high-energy laser being developed by the U.S. Air Force for its fighters won't arm either the Northrop Grumman F-35 Joint Strike Fighter or the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighters.

The program to build the airborne lasers is named "Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) Turret Research in Aero-Effects (STRAFE) and is under the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

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Northrop Grumman in August was awarded a $39.3 million contract related to the development of a laser-based self-defense system for the USAF.

Northrop Grumman will also develop and deliver an advanced beam control system for integration as part of a complete laser weapons system into a tactical pod for USAF fighter aircraft as part of the SHiELD segment.

On the other hand, STRAFE will increase the knowledge and understanding of aero-optic disturbances in a supersonic environment by collecting data during engagement scenarios. Work on SHiELD/STRAFE is expected to be completed by the end of August 2021.

SHiELD, which will be housed in a large pod on the side of a jet, will destroy incoming missiles. In contrast, current laser systems only divert missiles away from a U.S. jet. Future improvements intend to increase the laser's power output for longer range and greater destructive power.

Unfortunately, the Air Force's most advanced jets, the F-22 Raptor and F-35, most likely won't mount the SHiELD since the bump created by the pod will negate their stealth characteristics and make them more visible to air and ground radars.

Instead, ShiELD will arm the Air Force's fourth-generation fighters such as the Boeing F-15 Eagle and Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.

AFRL, however, seems to be leaning towards the F-15, a combat proven fighter that entered Air Force service in 1976.

AFRL's SHiELD program, which is sponsored by Air Combat Command, aims to demonstrate a high-energy laser on a tactical aircraft in 2021. Funding the future laser jets will be an Air Force request for $2.5 billion in their fiscal 2017 budget to Congress.

Sources said AFRL engineers might combine many small lasers (similar to those in a Blu-Ray player) into a powerful high-power beam with over 10 kilowatts of power.

TagsU.S. Air Force, Northrop Grumman F-35 J, Northrop Grumman F-22 Raptor, stealth fighter, Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator, SHIELD, Turret Research in Aero-Effects (STRAFE), air force research laboratory