Global defense company Northrop Grumman (Redondo Beach, CA) has announced the introduction of the FIRESTRIKE laser, a ruggedized, high-energy, solid-state laser designed as a line replaceable unit (LRU) for battlefield applications, ready for order now.
The FIRESTRIKE laser offers warfighters a 15 kW fieldable laser as well as a combinable LRU building block for much higher power, based on a laser-beam-combining architecture validated by Northrop Grumman over many years with the Joint High Power Solid State Laser program, Vesta and Vesta II.
"We are ready to deliver on the promise of defense at the speed of light with FIRESTRIKE," said Dan Wildt, vice president of Directed Energy Systems for Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector. "The FIRESTRIKE laser power per cubic foot has been greatly enhanced from its successful laboratory predecessors."
He noted the FIRESTRIKE laser has been hardened for military uses but also was designed with life-cycle costs and reliability in mind. "FIRESTRIKE is designed for field operations and simple replacement," Wildt added.
"This is a rugged electric laser with power levels, beam quality, and runtime suitable for offensive and defensive military utility. Also available is a newly designed laser current source assembly (LCSA), which is compact, and specifically developed to precisely meet FIRESTRIKE's power needs. Combined with advanced electro-optical and/or infrared sensors, the FIRESTRIKE laser can provide self-defense, precision strike, and enhanced situational awareness capabilities."
The FIRESTRIKE laser is a line-replaceable system that allows for scaling a laser weapon to desired power levels for specific warfighting applications and platforms. Northrop Grumman believes that FIRESTRIKE laser will form the backbone of future laser-weapon systems.
The FIRESTRIKE laser features a power of 15 kW, a beam quality nominally 1.5 times the diffraction limit, and a laser head measuring 12 x 23 x 40 in. (width, depth, height). The current source measures 9 x 13 x 30". The runtime is continuous, as long as power and coolant are provided. The laser features instant turn-on, going from zero to full power in less than 1/2 second.
Safety features include emote operation, customer interlock access, and internal safety sensors. Common command and control (C2) systems and Ethernet interfaces are included. A low-power setting provides a nominally 100 watt alignment beam.
The system weights 400 lbs per LRU. The LRUs are hardened with compact SSL technology engineered for mobility and field operations.
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