Vesta
Expected to greatly shorten the timeline for lasers to go from the laboratory onto the battlefield, Vesta's critical features are high power, excellent beam quality, and long run time — all packaged into a compact laser device that represents significant reductions in size and in the weight of the laser from previous systems. Beam quality refers to how well the beam can be focused, ultimately defining how much of the beam can be projected onto a target. Since it offers a groundbreaking combination of excellent beam quality and high power, Vesta can place an unprecedented level of power onto a targeted spot.
Potential uses include force protection of fixed-site critical assets, ground maneuver forces, ships and aircraft as well as precision strike by manned and unmanned aircraft.
Vesta:
- Demonstrates a "beam quality" or brightness of less than 1.3
times the theoretical diffraction limit. By comparison, a
typical industrial laser for welding would have a beam quality
exceeding 20. Weapon system applications typically seek beam
qualities of 1.5 to 2. Beam qualities less than 1.5 for high-power lasers are considered outstanding. - Operates at a power of 15 kilowatts continuous run time
- Is designed to operate at this power and beam quality level
indefinitely — even demonstrating more than 20 minutes of
continuous operation with no degradation.