Next-generation ultraviolet laser capabilities are to be developed for military use by Daylight Defense LLC under a U.S. Army contract.

The value of the award was not disclosed, but Daylight Defense said it was granted under the U.S. Army Small Business Innovation Research program.

"We are grateful that the U.S. government has entrusted Daylight to develop a next-generation capability for future airborne military laser systems," said Dr. Timothy Day, chief executive officer of parent company Daylight Solutions. "The development of compact, ruggedized UV laser modules fits well within our product roadmap to bring advanced capabilities to the warfighter."

The U.S. Army is interested in laser sources in the near-UV for applications such as light detection and ranging, or LIDAR, and other applications for helicopters. Application of the technology would also be applicable to other systems for battlefield awareness and trace detection.

Daylight said it has created a line of military laser products using its quantum cascade laser technologies.