Posted by Courtney E. Howard
SAN DIEGO, Calif., 17 May 2011. The Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL)-based JammIR Series B.4 laser system for military and aerospace applications from Daylight Defense LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daylight Solutions Inc., has passed environmental tests. Daylight’s QCL-based systems have completed flight tests aboard several helicopter platforms and passed the U.S. Army’s reliability characterization test (RCT), demonstrating a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL).
The Solaris laser, designed to reduce system weight and improve manufacturability, integrates with direct coupled pointer/tracker assemblies and takes advantage of the broad transmission characteristics of direct-coupled pointer/trackers. As a result, it can offer more efficient jamming lines than are possible with traditional chalcogenide fiber-coupled pointer/trackers. The design enhancements of Solaris provide significant increases in capability, while maintaining the integrity of the product family’s high TRL.
“We are pleased that the Solaris laser system has performed so well during these tests,” explains Dr. Timothy Day, Daylight Defense’s CEO. “The design maturity of this product line has been validated through these tests, and gives us high confidence that this offers a low risk solution for our customers, and will provide significant capabilities and value to the warfighter.”
This new, military-grade Solaris system represents the fourth-generation in Daylight’s Series B family of multi-watt, multi-wavelength laser system products. Earlier generations of the Series B family have been demonstrated to meet the U.S. military’s requirements for environmental ruggedization and reliability.
