Verus Research has been awarded over $40M in new contracts supporting two efforts under the auspices of the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation.

The first, a 42-month, $25.3M program, will build on existing Verus Research deuterium-based dense plasma focus technology (DPF) to deliver a tritium-based test capability to White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). Verus Research will design, build, and do factory acceptance testing at our Albuquerque laboratory and then transport the tritium-based DPF components to WSMR for final installation and acceptance testing. When operational, this new DPF system will close a national capability gap in ultra-short pulse neutron testing.

One of the longest running programs at Verus Research, DPF is also one of the Company’s most complex technical endeavors.  As noted by Dr. J. Mark DelGrande, Verus Research Chief Technology Officer, DPF “is a superb example of state-of-the art in science and engineering coming together to advance technologies by providing analysis, design, development, integration, and test for the aerospace and defense community.”

On the second program, Verus Research will work under a 60-month, $16.5M contract called the “Agile Sources Advancement Program” (ASAP) to meet the needs of the Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center.  ASAP centers on the design, modeling, assessment, and capability development of non-kinetic systems and diagnostics. The effort includes injecting added agility into the nation’s test and evaluation capabilities to address rapidly emerging requirements.

Features of the work will include, among other technical areas, airborne and ground-based surrogate high-power microwave (HPM) systems, airborne and ground-based HPM instrumentation testing capabilities, and customized HPM measurement technologies to address ever expanding frequency ranges. Dr. DelGrande noted “these tasks derive from our previous research efforts and are a testament to the viability of an ‘acorns to oaks’ approach where small ideas can become major programs.”