Lockheed Martin to Acquire Coherent

Lockheed Martin Corporation recently announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Louisville, CO based Coherent Technologies, Inc., a renowned supplier of high-performance, laser-based remote sensing systems. Its best known product is WindTracer(R), a pulsed Doppler LIDAR that uses an infrared, eyesafe laser to bounce off dust particles. The light reflected back to the system measures the wind speed and direction and also maps aerosol concentrations. Coherent Technologies will become the center of excellence for Laser Radar within Lockheed Martin, and Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver, CO will manage the Coherent business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the deal’s closing is expected later this year. This is Lockheed Martin’s fourth announced transaction this year, and the acquisition of Coherent follows their strategy of acquiring small and medium-sized businesses that align with core competencies and broaden Lockheed’s presence with key customers.