Aculight Takes on Laser Work

Aculight Corp. announced it was awarded a $2.6 million subcontract from Pennsylvania State University's Electro-Optics Center (EOC) to make two types of semiconductor lasers used in advanced midinfrared laser transmitters that are being developed for use in aircraft infrared countermeasures defensive systems. These systems can autonomously detect, track and jam heat-seeking missiles to defend military and commercial aircraft.

The three-year contract was awarded to the EOC by the Office of Naval Research Manufacturing Technology Program (Navy ManTech) and is being conducted on behalf of the Naval Air Systems Command PMA 272 (Adv Tactical Aircraft Protection) unit.

Aculight will work with the US Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate (AFRL/DELS) at Kirtland Air Force Base (Albuquerque, N.M.), which initially developed the optically pumped semiconductor laser technology that will be prepared for volume manufacturing, to investigate thermal and yield enhancmenets to the lasers' efficiency or increase their output power. Processes now performed by AFRL/DELS will be transitioned to Aculight to establish its capacity to manufacture the lasers, and pilot component production runs will be conducted to validate the fabrication processes.

For more information, visit: aculight.com