Innovative Shortwave Infrared High Energy Laser Source and Coupled Imager

SBIR topic DON27BZ02-NV025 (U.S. Department of Defense – Navy), Phase I and II. Open to U.S. small businesses. Opens: December 2, 2026. Closes: January 6, 2027. The Navy desires a short wave infrared high energy laser illuminator and coupled range-gated imaging sensor, including optics, operating in 1.9-2.5 micron wavelength to increase engagement ranges in adverse marine atmospheric conditions that include absorption, Mie and Rayleigh scattering, thermal blooming, etc. and able to operate in continuous wave (CW) or pulsed operation modes – at a variable power level up to kilowatt powers (average). Adjustable wavelength tunability to match to optimal atmospheric penetration and transmission within the band specified is required. If the entire band is not accessible, then rationale must be provided for limitation or selections made. In addition, it requires these to be ruggedized, so they are suitable to be installed on maritime platforms (i.e., ships, USMC ground vehicles, and aircraft) and be in a wavelength regime that is considered “eye-safer” when considering issues of defuse reflection or scatter when nearby observers are present. Gimbal and optics development or advancements in the shortwave infrared regimes may be offered but are not the primary technical objective in consideration for this topic. Recent advances in laser sources [Ref 1] with high beam quality at the 2 micron wavelength, using Holmium and Thulium doped fiber optic-based power gain amplifiers, have shown a potential pathways for innovation to reach higher average powers (in Continuous Wave operation) in the multi-kilowatt regime, within the 2.0 to 2.4 micron (µm) band and falling within an atmospheric spectral short-wave infrared (SWIR) transmission band due to their low absorption of light by atmospheric water vapor. A pulsed system with a pulse gated optical imaging sensor offers the unique opportunity to not only provide a simple Laser Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) capability but also…