REDONDO BEACH, Calif., 16 Jan. 2007. Experts at Northrop Grumman Corp. today opened a specialized facility for systems integration and production of high-energy laser systems for military uses.

Located at the Space Technology sector's Space Park campus in Redondo Beach, Calif., the Directed Energy Production Facility is for the production of high-energy, solid-state lasers and their integration onto military vehicles.

"Powerful military lasers, with their speed-of-light targeting capabilities and cost-effective operation, have the potential to transform the way we equip our armed forces defending our country abroad and protecting it at home against terrorist threats," says Alexis Livanos, president of Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector.

The first work in the facility will be for Phase 3 of the Joint High-Power Solid State Laser (JHPSSL) program, which will build and demonstrate the first 100-kilowatt solid-state laser for battlefield and precision strike missions.

The facility will provide the capability to produce current- and future-generation technologies of lasers including fiber lasers even more powerful than 100 kilowatts. There will also be an integration area where electric lasers are integrated onto various military platforms, such as armored combat vehicles.

With class 1,000 clean rooms and integrated laser safety systems, the facility can produce several laser systems at the same time.