The Laser Centre of Excellence has been opened in Edinburgh by BAE Systems Avionics Group of Basildon, also in the UK. The 4000-sq-ft facility will produce lasers for the F-35 joint strike fighter electro-optical targeting system under a contract awarded by Lockheed Martin to BAE in September 2003. The devices will provide the system with precision range measurement and a laser-guided weapon designation capacity.

The £65 million center houses flexible manufacturing space certified to ISO Class 8, and to ISO Class 5 using BAE Systems laminar flow optical workstations. It accommodates 21 laser firing rooms designed for high-power Class 4 lasers, and offers individual environmental controls.