The Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., has awarded Nuvonyx Inc. of Bridgeton, Mo., a five-year contract totaling $3,770,084 to help develop laser diode pump sources for fiber lasers. Under the agreement, the laboratory will collaborate with Nuvonyx and its subcontractors, Alfalight Inc. of Madison, Wis., and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, to integrate wavelength control structures into the laser diodes to decrease susceptibility to temperature changes. It also will seek to improve the optical performance of the lasers while using automation to reduce their cost.The allotment is a portion of a potential $80 mission indefinite delivery/quantity contract.