Contract aims at laser communications system

Cubic Corp. won a 15-month, $6.1 million research and development contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the company said.

Cubic's defense segment, Cubic Defense Applications, will perform the work, which will be a continuation of the company's work on the second phase of the Dynamic Optical Tags program. Under the new contract, Cubic of San Diego will focus on miniaturizing the optical tag and testing a prototype airborne interrogator.

Optical tags allow long-range, covert, two-way data exchange and reconfiguration to reduce the chances of losing lives or assets in tactical operations. The tags use lasers instead of radio frequency, which reduces the chances of detection or interception, Cubic officials said.

The company received funding for the first phase of the program in 2003. Cubic has built prototype tags and a prototype interrogator, the two main components of the system.

Cubic has 5,700 employees and annual sales of $722 million. The company ranks No. 77 on Washington Technology's 2005 Top 100 list, which measures federal prime contracting revenue.