QPC Awarded Defense Contract, Will Expand

QPC Lasers Inc., a Sylmar, Calif.-based maker of semiconductor lasers for electronics, industrial, defense and medical markets, was awarded a $750,000 defense contract to modify its BrightLase high-power fiber laser pump engine for use in airborne-directed energy weapon applications. The contract is a follow-on to previously announced awards totalling $2.5 million since 2007. QPC said it recently delivered a BrightLase system to the same customer. The prototype uses HPSEL chip technology, which QPC said enables it to place hundreds of high-brightness surface-emitting lasers onto a single chip. The lasers are designed to produce beams more than 10 times brighter than semiconductor lasers now used in industrial and medical applications, it said. QPC also said it will expand its facilities to meet production requirements.