Infrared laser countermeasure technology for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman, Pranalytica
NewsJanuary 10, 2013
APOPKA, FL. – A new variant of the All Semiconductor Airborne Laser Threat Terminator (ASALTT) that hosts a high power, high brightness Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) module has been announced by Northrop Grumman. The ASALTT family is a group of infrared countermeasure systems deployed on rotary and fixed-wing military aircraft. The QCL was integrated into the platform in conjunction with Pranalytica, Inc., who customized the performance and properties of the QCL for the new laser design.
The QCL module operates at 10 W in the Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) spectrum at 10 W, allowing color ratio control in real-time of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 ASALLT laser systems. According to Northrop Grumman Vice President and General Manager of the Laser Systems business unit Gordon Stewart, the QCL is “packaged to the size of a smartphone.”
ASALTT products are modularly architected technologies designed to engage and destroy enemy threats through a range of environmentally stable opto-mechanical laser systems. “we have met both double-digit power specifications and the high beam quality sought for next-generation laser systems that satisfy size, weight and power requirements,” Pranalytica President and CEO Kumar Patel commented on the new standard of power, beam size, and beam quality achieved by the new variant. “Previously, these specifications could not be met.”
