nLight Shares Rise After Laser Weapon Contract Worth Up to $627 Million
By Chris Wack
nLight were higher after the company said it was selected for a Joint Laser Weapon System, or JLWS, Other Transaction Authority agreement supporting the U.S. Department of War's next-generation cruise missile defense architecture.
The stock rose 30% to $76.03, and is up 306% in the past 12 months.
The technology company said the initial award has a value of $44 million, with a total program ceiling of up to $627 million, inclusive of follow-on development, integration, and potential production options.
nLight said the JLWS program aims to develop prototype systems that offer critical operational advantages over traditional kinetic systems, including speed-of-light engagement and significantly lower cost-per-intercept.
To address urgent operational demands, initial JLWS prototypes will be rated at 150 kW. Subsequent iterations will be scaled to reach the 300--500 kW threshold required for robust cruise missile defense.
The company said the JLWS will be executed under an OTA contract, which enables rapid prototyping and flexible collaboration with the Department of War, allowing for iterative development and accelerated transition to production compared to traditional acquisition pathways.
Write to Chris Wack at chris.wack@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 09, 2026 11:14 ET (15:14 GMT)
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