Northrop Grumman delivers production-line Vesta II solid-state laser to Air Force

Northrop Grumman Corporation delivered a compact, stand-alone, 15 kW high-power, solid-state laser developed for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Called Vesta II, the laser was a sole source add-on to the Joint High Power Solid State Laser (JHPSSL) program contract and leverages Northrop Grumman's scalable technology architecture.

The transportable, push-button laser is a reproducible product that takes advantage of compactness to broaden the potential range of uses by military services. "Vesta II is a unique, compact, high-power laser available for laboratory use as a testing device for lethality, atmospheric propagation, long-range imaging, and laser weapon applications," said Dan Wildt, VP of directed energy systems for Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector. The U.S. military has set a power level goal of 100kW to shoot down rockets, missiles, artillery and mortars, by comparison. "By 'scaling down' the overall architecture of solid-state laser weapons into more compact, easy-to-use systems, we have taken a very large step toward making them more rugged and easier to field," Wildt added.

Vesta II was accepted in late June by the Optics Division of AFRL's Directed Energy Directorate. The division conducts research to improve optical and imaging systems that enhance the nation's ability to view objects in space and also to put high-energy laser power on-target. The directorate develops high-energy lasers, high-power microwaves, and other directed-energy technologies for the Air Force and Department of Defense.

For more information, visit www.northropgrumman.com.