With a focus on security and asymmetrical threats, we apply our full portfolio of products and expertise to support specialized projects, primarily in Europe and the US. Our advanced fiber laser technology enables compact, robust laser systems – critical for deployment on mobile platforms like aircraft, ships, and ground vehicles.
Most aerospace and defense projects are customized. Get in touch with our A&D experts to discuss your project or find inspiration on this page.
Hamamatsu Photonics for Space Exploration
Our SuperK supercontinuum white light fiber lasers play a critical role in a range of high-precision optical tests, characterization, and calibrations across leading NASA facilities.
They enable reflectivity measurements of the telescope’s tertiary mirror at Johnson Space Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. At Johnson, they support cryogenic testing of the telescope and science instruments (OTIS).
At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, SuperK lasers are instrumental in testing science instruments, while at Ball Aerospace, they help advance the wavefront sensing and control (WFSC) subsystem to TRL-6 on the Testbed Telescope (TBT). Additionally, these lasers are used to test the aft-optics system, including the tertiary and fine steering mirrors, and to calibrate near-infrared cameras.
In ESA’s Euclid mission to light up the Dark Universe, the French company Imagine Optic is using a SuperK laser for data processing.
Tailored Lasers for Satellite Communication
Hamamatsu Photonics’ beacon laser is essential for ground control of satellites, providing reliable communication and precise measurements. Engineered from the ground up, our beacon laser system is at the heart of ESA’s IZN-1 satellite communications ground station, ensuring high-quality optical communication.
Our beacon laser emits a narrow-linewidth, modulated signal at an eye-safe wavelength. As a satellite passes overhead, it detects the signal and uses it to precisely locate the ground station, allowing its optical transmitter to align accurately for data downlink.
To meet the demanding specifications of the mission, we built this beacon laser by combining our cutting-edge fiber laser and amplifier technology with advanced electro-mechanical integration, and delivered a compact, turn-key one-box solution – something no one else on the market could offer.
Inherently Robust and Scalable
Applications for aerospace and defense are among the most demanding in terms of performance and requirements for robustness in a harsh environment. For such applications, fiber lasers are ideal as the monolithic design is inherently robust and scalable.
As a vertically integrated fiber laser manufacturer, Hamamatsu Photonics can tailor the lasers to the application, all the way from the raw glass going into the fibers to the final laser design.
Our lasers provide multi-kilowatt power and precision in directed energy applications, stability and reliability in DAS systems for perimeter security, and narrow linewidth and stable power and frequency for Photon Doppler Velocimetry.
Your Trustworthy Partner
We support the aerospace and defense industries with reliable, high-performance laser solutions designed for mission-critical applications. We work closely with leading institutions and companies to develop purpose-built systems that meet demanding technical and security requirements.
Our long-standing partnerships are built on a foundation of discretion, technical excellence, and a proven ability to deliver. By combining innovation with rigorous quality standards, we provide advanced fiber laser and optical communication technologies that our partners rely on in their most sensitive projects.
