U.S. has developed an improved aluminum-based composite laser

U.S. contractors have developed laser amplifiers based on YAG nanopowders, which have low-cost, high-beam-quality features and can quickly compete with targets.

Gimmat, a contractor of the Air Force Research Laboratory, used the technology to develop small-scale samples for the U.S. Army and received government financial support. Another contractor expressed its desire to apply the technology to larger-scale devices, but the company does not have the capital to achieve the relevant goals. Because the Army was unable to invest in related projects, the US Air Force invested $750,000 in related projects through the Small Business Innovation/Technology Transformation (SBIR/STTR) program.

“The Ministry of Defense has conducted a lot of research on polycrystalline YAGs for lasers, and Jimat’s achievements are complete,” said Hopkins, an Air Force project engineer. “Through this technology, the defense industry can innovate laser designs.” At present, Gimmat and another defense contractor have begun to develop and produce related equipment for the manufacture and control of nanoscale raw materials to ensure that the product can achieve the required high purity.

“As we continue to develop the necessary production lines, as well as related control and feedback systems, we hope that Gimmat will also have corresponding qualifications and manufacturing capabilities to ensure the reliability, purity and consistency of products, and the scale of production can be met. Department of Defense's Laser Development Needs."