High-Energy Lasers: Laser Focus World

High-Energy Laser Advancements: Optimax's Role in the Army's Laser Weapon Systems

The future of battlefield technology is evolving rapidly, with high-energy lasers taking center stage in defense initiatives. In recent developments, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, is engineering laser systems designed to intercept mortars and drones. A critical aspect of making this vision a reality lies in integrating the laser system, power sources, optics, and tracking mechanisms within a mobile, field-ready vehicle. However, the real challenge is ensuring that the optics can perform reliably under intense battlefield conditions.

The Role of Optics in Laser Weaponry
While the lasers themselves often draw public attention, the optics required for these systems face some of the harshest demands. High-powered lasers in military applications produce intense, continuous beams that can damage optical coatings and even burn through glass if not precisely engineered. As Brandon Light, a manufacturing engineer at Optimax, notes, these optics must be meticulously crafted, yet durable enough to withstand field conditions where they are often cleaned by soldiers in the simplest ways possible, such as wiping with sleeves. Developing operating protocols that balance optical care with practical battlefield use is essential to maintaining these systems in peak condition.

Directed-energy optics are among the most challenging optics Optimax produces. As Pete Kupinski, Optimax's coating manager, describes, “High peak powers can damage coatings, but intense continuous beams from weapon lasers can go deeper to ablate holes in the glass.” With a background in optics for pulsed lasers in nuclear fusion and extreme-ultraviolet lithography, Optimax is no stranger to precision and durability. However, the demands of military laser optics take these requirements to a new level.

Meeting the Challenge with Cutting-Edge Capabilities
Optimax is uniquely prepared to support this next generation of high-energy laser weaponry through its advanced capabilities in optics manufacturing, including:

• High-Precision Optical Manufacturing: Precision is key in military applications, where even minute errors can have significant consequences. Optimax ensures exacting standards in every optic it produces.
• Minimal Subsurface Damage and Contamination: Laser optics must maintain peak clarity and integrity under harsh conditions. Optimax’s manufacturing methods minimize subsurface damage and contamination to enhance performance. Military Specifications MIL-C-675C,  MIL-C-48497A, and MIL-M-13508C
• Optical Coating for High Laser Damage Thresholds: Optimax applies specialized coatings designed to withstand extreme intensities, ensuring that optics can endure continuous laser exposure without degradation.
• Metrology for Tolerance Precision: Measuring to precise tolerances is essential for long-term reliability and effectiveness. Optimax’s metrology capabilities ensure that each optic meets the exact specifications required for combat readiness.
• Cleanroom Operations and Packaging for Surface Cleanliness: Cleanroom facilities allow Optimax to produce and package optics with exceptional cleanliness standards, protecting these delicate components during transport and handling.