Military & Defense News
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Optica Honors Alain Rousset With Advocate In Optics Recognition
11/21/2022
Optica is pleased to announce that Alain Rousset, President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, is recognized as its latest Advocate of Optics for his visionary investment in the optics industry.
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Bright Ideas — Quantum Inertial Sensors Could Save Communications, China To Open First Photonic Chip Fab
10/26/2022
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in optics and photonics. This week, China is reportedly ready to break ground on the nation's first photonic chip manufacturing facility. And one researcher and his team at Sandia are trying to transform bulky quantum inertial sensors into smaller, more rugged packages to back up lost GPS signals.
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Bright Ideas — Two In Vivo Solutions Offer Quicker, Better Cancer Detection, Booz Allen Hamiton Invests In DEWs
10/19/2022
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in optics and photonics. This week, two new in vivo solutions show promise for early or more accurate cancer detection. Plus, Booz Allen Hamilton invests in direct energy weapons (DEWs) with the creation of its new HELworks business unit.
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The Current State And Outlook Of Directed Energy Weapons
9/30/2022
From high-energy lasers to high-power radio frequency devices and more, directed energy weapons are increasingly ubiquitous. But what are these technologies, and how are they changing the way the military operates?
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Bright Ideas — Defense Prime CEOs Sanctioned By China, DARPA To Give Small Biz 'Classified' Access
9/21/2022
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, China sanctioned two defense prime contractors' CEOs, DARPA opens a new program to give small businesses access to classified endeavors, and SPIE Startup Challenge is now accepting applications.
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Bright Ideas — HELIOS Headed to Navy, "Sun Glint" Reveals Offshore Methane Emissions
8/24/2022
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, "sun glint" offers more precise look at offshore methane emissions, Lockheed Martin prepares to deliver its HELIOS laser weapon to the U.S. Navy, and scientists pursue replacement for LEDs.
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Bright Ideas — SDA Seeks Demo For Space-To-Aircraft Laser Communications, Cats & Coffee Latest Benefactors Of Laser Innovation
8/10/2022
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, the Space Development Agency (SDA) is again looking for a vendor to demo laser crosslinks between orbiting satellites and moving aircraft, France is trying out a new anti-drone laser weapon ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, and Trumpf is taking the shipping crises into its own hands.
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WANTED: Industry Innovators To Nurture Defense, National Security Advances
8/5/2022
The U.S. government relies heavily on its relationship with industry and academia and their combined ability to provide nutritive technologies and solutions in military and defense, national security, space exploration, medical advances, and more. And the opportunities are plenty.
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Bright Ideas — Laser Systems Needed To Refuel UAS, Everlasting Laser Built With BEC
6/29/2022
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, DARPA is asking industry to help outfit refueling aircraft with lasers to recharge UAS, an everlasting laser is built with Bose-Einstein Condensate, and nanoscale flying robots with light-up wings are explored as light-based communicators.
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Bright Ideas — NASA To Reveal First JWST Color Images, Optical Laser Communications Advances
6/17/2022
Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, NASA announced the first images from JWST will be revealed on July 12. Northrop Grumman and BlueHalo are making strides in optical laser communications. And, Optica covers the Russia-Ukraine war by chronicling the challenges faced by researchers whose personal lives and scientific work are threatened by the conflict.