The US Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded a $3.05 million contract to VLOC, a subsidiary of II-VI Inc., to grow crystals for use in diode-pumped laser housings for active sensors.The contract will encompass the growth of neodymium-activated yttrium vanadate crystals, the development of components and the demonstration of diode-pumped, near-IR laser radiation in compact, rugged packaging. Optimal techniques for fabrication, coating, testing and environmental-hardening of the packaging will be developed.The efforts will be a collaboration of VLOC, II-VI's Advanced Materials Development Center, the Center for Materials Research at Washington State University and Aculight Corp.