Defense tech startup Blue Halo makes lasers that shoot drones out of the sky
It’s the kind of patriotic mission statement echoed by plenty of eager young defense startups. But for Blue Halo CEO Jonathan Moneymaker, it’s personal. “I’m a gold star brother, which means my brother was killed in the Navy,” Moneymaker told Business Insider. “Technology could have saved his life. And part of this is making sure that others have that opportunity.” Moneymaker is now five years into running Blue Halo. In that time, and with the backing of private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners, it has designed, tested, and fielded the Army’s first major laser weapon system. It’s a rapid rate of turnaround, practically unknown to the bigger, more established defense contractors. After securing a $1 billion contract from the Pentagon this year, Blue Halo is now delivering its Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL) system to the Army, enabling them to blast drones out of the sky with AI-powered pinpoint accuracy.
