IR Laser Helps Elude Enemy Missiles

A mid-IR laser designed for use in next-generation electronic warfare systems has arrived at the US Naval Research Laboratory in Chesapeake Beach, Md. Designed by TRW Inc. of Redondo Beach, Calif., the laser produces 20 W of output and emits between 3.7 and 4.9 µm. It will be incorporated in surface ship protection systems for the US Navy. The high-power Nd:YAG is the latest in a series of solid-state lasers the company has produced for the military. In April, TRW completed the development of a solid-state laser test bed that will allow the Air Force to evaluate the design and performance of key laser components planned for the Airborne Laser System.