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Fiber Lasers in Mapping, Guidance, and LIDAR
Lasers, including fiber laser systems, are already widely used in various military applications. Fiber lasers are used in LIDAR systems for the accurate and precise construction of high-resolution maps, laser guidance, airborne laser swath mapping, and laser altimetry. The most common fiber lasers used for high-resolution mapping are 1550 nm fiber lasers, as they are eye-safe at high power levels and offer precise results. They provide accurate images over long distances, which makes them an ideal solution for mapping and laser guidance.
High-Power Fiber Lasers for Combat and Defense
Lasers are also envisioned to be used as weapons during live combat in the future. There are multiple laser-based weapon prototypes that are being developed and tested, some of which have already proven to be effective at slaying military drones. The reason behind the efforts to develop laser-based weapon systems is the multiple advantages that laser systems offer. Laser-based systems will not require ammunition; instead, they rely on power. An important advantage of laser systems is their high power level and high speed; these characteristics allow for effective combat performance. Lasers are also silent and invisible, which is important for stealth operations. However, there are still challenges with the development of laser-based weapons, one of them being the design of a laser system that is compact enough to be used in live combat situations. To be practical, lasers need to be compact, lightweight, and transportable.
Fiber Lasers as the Core of Next-Generation Weapon Systems
Laser weapons work by applying intense heat to the target, destroying or damaging it. High-power fiber lasers are needed to produce enough heat. The most recent laser weapons utilize fiber lasers that can be easily adjusted by adding or removing individual lasers from the combined beam.
Fiber lasers are at the forefront of not only military applications, but many other areas, like photomask repairing, micromachining, LIDAR, optic sensing, etc. It is important to find the right fiber laser vendor that is able to manufacture fiber laser systems for a specific purpose.