Inactive

Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) has been assessing the potential value of introducing Directed Energy into the National Defense architecture. As a part... Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) has been assessing the potential value of introducing Directed Energy into the National Defense architecture. As a part of that assessment, DoD has been investing in Diode Pumped Alkali Laser (DPAL) technology at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). DPALs are gas lasers using alkali elements in vapor form as the lasing media and using diode lasers for efficient photopumping of the laser system. The Government is seeking information on approaches to transition DPAL technology from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to industry, and build a 300 kilowatt (kW)-class laser starting in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. The demonstration of 300kW DPAL laser technology is seen as a significant milestone that could lead to insertion of DPAL in the OUSD (R&E)-led High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI), and create potential follow-on efforts to develop both 500kW and 1000kW-class lasers.