BRIDGETON, Mo., Sept. 7 -- Bridgeton, Mo.-based Nuvonyx Inc. has been awarded a contract worth up to $80 million from the US Air Force to work on laser development. $3,770,084 was awarded to Novunyx last week as a portion of the potential $80 million overall contract to provide specialized technical support to the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract calls for scientific and technical research to develop the next generation of laser diode pump sources for fiber lasers over a possible five-year ordering period, the Department of Defense said. The Air Force can issue orders up to $80 million, although actual requirements may be less. Work will be complete by September 2009. The first installment will provide the basis for work over the next five years. Under the contract, the laboratory will work with Nuvonyx and two of its subcontractors in a team arrangement. The subcontractors are Alfalight Inc., of Madison, Wis., and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Nuvonyx said the team's focus is twofold: to integrate wavelength control structures into the laser diodes to reduce susceptibility to temperature changes and to improve the optical performance of the lasers while using automation methods to reduce the cost of the pump devices. According to the laboratory's program manager, Michael Vigil, "A broad range of mission needs will be impacted significantly by successful integration of this technology and will improve high-energy laser technology. The primary benefits are improving the efficiency and reducing the costs of laser diode arrays. This technology will benefit both government and industry by developing greatly improved future fiber and solid-state lasers." For more information, visit: www.companyname.com