Northrop Grumman Laser Firsts

2007	–	First industry facility dedicated to solid-state, high-energy laser systems production opens at Northrop Grumman's Space Park campus in Redondo Beach, Calif.
2006	–	Vesta debuts —a compact, solid-state laser with high-power, excellent beam quality and long run times for multiple military uses (from fixed-site protection to precision strike)
2006	–	Strategic Illuminator Laser (SILL) meets all technical performance requirements in tests that prove it's the highest power, brightest continuously pulsed laser of its kind ever built.  Funded by the Missile Defense Agency, SILL is a new, diode-pumped, solid-state, next-generation pulsed illuminator laser.
2005	–	Joint High Power Solid State Laser (JHPSSL) demonstrator blasts one of the most powerful (more than 27kW), continuously operating (350 seconds), solid-state laser beams ever produced by an electric laser—believed to be the brightest beam ever produced by this technology.
2004	–	Missile Defense Agency successfully fires Northrop Grumman-built Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser, the first megawatt-class laser built for an airborne environment for ABL
2004	–	THEL Testbed shoots down mortars — singles and a salvo — proving that directed energy can be applied on the battlefield to address current threats
2004	–	THEL Testbed destroys a large-caliber rocket carrying a live warhead in-flight — the largest, fastest and highest flying target ever destroyed by a high-energy laser
2003	-	Northrop Grumman selected to develop the Strategic Illuminator Laser (SILL) for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), providing a crucial component for systems such as ABL and future space-based programs.
2003	–	Delivery of the brightest flight-qualified kilowatt-class solid state laser - the Beacon Illuminator Laser built for ABL
2002	–	First in-flight destruction of an artillery projectile (THEL)
2001	–	First COIL laser module packaged for flight operations built for the Airborne Laser (ABL)
2000	–	First in-flight destruction of salvoed short-range, live artillery rockets (THEL)
1999	–	Record output power for mid-IR solid state laser (DARPA/Tri-Service Mid IR II Laser)
1996	–	First in-flight destruction of short-range artillery rocket (Nautilus)
1995	–	World-record chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) efficiencies
1992	–	Record brightness for solid state laser in near-infrared
1991	–	First megawatt-class laser engineered for space operations (Alpha)
1980	–	First megawatt-class chemical laser (MIRACL)
1978	–	First shoot down of missile in flight by laser (Navy ARPA Chemical Laser)
1973	–	First high energy (>100 kW) chemical laser (Baseline Demonstration Laser)
1970	–	High energy laser research begins at Northrop Grumman