Daylight Defense LLC has been selected by the US Army to develop next-generation high-power ultraviolet (UV) laser capability to support future defense applications.
Daylight Defense is a a subsidiary of Daylight Solutions Inc of San Diego, CA, USA, which makes molecular detection and imaging systems based on mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) for scientific research, life science, industrial process control and defense applications. The subsidiary manufactures QCL-based high-power, multi-color laser systems for defense and homeland security applications, providing mid-wave (MWIR) and long-wave (LWIR) thermal laser beacons and pointers, sensors for stand-off detection of explosives and chemical agents, and high-power illuminators for IR countermeasures. Daylight is partnered with Northrop Grumman Corp for the US Army’s Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) program to develop the next generation of aircraft survivability equipment to defend helicopters against man-portable air-defense systems and other heat-seeking munitions.
The latest US Army award was made under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which provides high-tech US businesses (with fewer than 500 staff) the opportunity to provide innovative R&D solutions in response to critical Army needs.
According to a recent solicitation by the US Army, “the Army is interested in laser sources in the near-UV for applications such as light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and other applications for helicopter survivability”. Additional applications of the technology include battlefield awareness, trace detection using LIDAR backscatter and/or bio-fluorescence, and data storage.
“The development of compact, ruggedized UV laser modules fits well within our product roadmap to bring advanced capabilities to the warfighter,” comments Daylight Solutions’ CEO Dr Timothy Day.
Daylight has leveraged its patented QCL technologies to create a line of military laser products that provide high-power and multi-color capabilities. Its modular open architecture approach is claimed to enable significant reductions in cycle-time from design to deployment, minimizing costs, while providing improvements in reliability and lifetime over existing technologies.
