Established in 1994 by Dr Vsevolod Mazo, Frankfurt Laser Company (FLC) entered the
expanding market of photonics. FLC’s headquarters are located in Friedrichsdorf, just outside of Frankfurt, Germany and the company has representatives worldwide. FLC quickly established a reputation as being experts in laser diode components.
FLC’s product line quickly expanded, adding a variety of light sources, optics, and other passive and active components. Integration of these components became a standard request by the customer base. FLC established its own captive suppliers for specific components and assemblies.
In 2019, Frankfurt Laser Company celebrates the historic milestone of 25 years in business. Though the overall global economy was in a downturn, FLC expanded its business 40% both in turnover and profit by obtaining several key contracts in the defence sector.
Laser systems for defence applications
FLC is involved with providing our customers with precisely what they are looking for where physically possible. From standard off-the-shelf lasers to working with laser die (chips), FLC can offer both custom and standard packages, such as: TO-Can, C-mounts, HHL, inclusion of TEC, bars, arrays, edge emitters, VCSELs, Quantum Cascade, and any combination of these devices. In addition, FLC offers fibre coupling, single and multi-mode for many of our light sources.
FLC works with demanding applications both for deployment in battlefield conditions and in other demanding applications. Our manufacturing people are capable of producing repeatedly high-reliability packages, which includes combining components, optics, electronics, and housings to the highest of standards.
When working with our manufacturers, we insist that they have the capability to test and qualify products to the application requirement and provide a full specification report for our clients. FLC has laser systems deployed the world over and is routinely building custom designed solutions.
Components and systems for the defence sector
Because of the nature of most defence articles, especially those supplied under NDA to our clients, as well as proscribed restrictions of ITAR, we can only point to the most general of products. That said, many of these components can be redeployed by our customers and built upon to create more specific ‘defence related’ products.
Though customisation will perhaps require licensing, registrations, and technical agreements, there is some flexibility to work with FLC and its partners in the USA
(for example), to develop variations of existing products, and / or develop new components and subsystems. Where needed, FLC can provide a ‘firewall’ to help our customers maintain ITAR compliance. Here are some of the various defence related products one can find with FLC today:
Target designators
Laser designators work by firing a series of coded pulses onto the target. These signals are picked up by the munitions. At this point, the munitions are able to steer themselves towards the train of unique light pulses. By targeting a unique train of light pulses this allows for higher target accuracy, along with the difficulty of being difficult to trace by the enemy.
Target designators can be used are in instruments that are, hand-held, ground-based, and airborne. They can be used for applications including laser-guided bombs, missiles, and precision munitions.
FLC can offer high power pulsed laser diodes in the infra-red range, along with the expertise in laser diode module design we are able to build custom modules for customer applications.
Target sight
Another area of use for lasers is as a target sight. Lasers have the advantage of producing a monochromatic light source that can be collimated and seen over large distances. In conjunction with firearms, they can be used to place a spot on the target to allow for greater accuracy.
Traditional red lasers for target identification, deployed on weapons, as well as green laser modules that work at both low and elevated temperature ranges are available today. FLC has products that have achieved a breakthrough in temperature performance. WTG (wide temperature green) laser modules are offered off-the-shelf.
High power visible lasers for targeting, and visual disruption or warning systems are also deployed currently. Light sources for beacons, location or friend/foe exist, but requirements often change. Dual wavelength lasers for combing target illumination, and identification are more exotic, but usually achievable with existing components.
Our range of designators as standard feature:
- Choice of wavelength
- Robust and high-quality design
- Wide operating temperature
- Excellent operational characteristics
Illuminators for use in military environments
Infrared radiation is not visible to the naked eye, however this does not mean that it is invisible per-se. The illuminator acts as an invisible torch to the naked eye yet through the use of specialist viewing equipment we are able to build a picture of the scene before us, effectively allowing us to ‘see’ in the dark.
An existing product that is also in development (for higher power output as an example) is 1550nm illuminators. This has been a growing area of interest for various military organisations. High power pulsed lasers for range finding is a well-known application.
FLC’s FLIR-40 unit is an excellent example of a modern illuminator, as an off-the-shelf product as standard it incorporates features such as:
- Ability to adjust beam divergence
- Small, light and compact
- Ability to operate in extreme conditions, being air tight and dust/moisture proof
- Operation over a wide temperature range
- Ease of operation
Benefits of working with FLC
Frankfurt Laser Company’s global customer base, combined with serving a large variety of markets, has uniquely positioned the company to use its composite knowledge to serve the defence industry in a unique fashion.
Here are some of the key reasons why FLC is an ideal partner for defence industry customers:
- We are not tied to a single market, we are not working with just one or two types of components available to us.
- We are not encumbered with a non-flexible management team.
- We value all custom, including low-volume, which can be common in the R&D efforts of even the largest military supplier.
- We are willing to attempt what has been not attempted before.
- We will go the extra mile to resource the best manufacturer for the given job.
