AFRL breaks ground on new Directed Energy facility

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. — The Air Force Research Laboratory broke ground Monday, on a new 10,000 sq. ft. facility addition, to study and advance Directed Energy capabilities for the U.S. Warfighter.

Dr. Kelly Hammett, Director of AFRL’s Directed Energy Directorate, joined other leaders for the ceremonial first dig.

“This new facility will allow for greater collaboration as we advance our High Power Microwave Directed Energy technologies,” said Hammett. “We have the nation’s brightest innovators working at AFRL, and this state-of-the-art facility will give them the infrastructure they deserve.”

The new space will be used for planning, developing, prototyping, testing and deploying high-powered radio frequency weapons systems.

“The colocation of branch personnel will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of research and system integration, as well as enable demonstration of rapid response capabilities,” Hammett said.

The $5.5M project is being constructed by QA Engineering, LLC, and is expected to be completed in March, 2021.

Air Force, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and construction leaders gather together to break ground on new Directed Energy facility addition. (Courtesy photo)