Along time Tucson developer of specialized lasers and directed-energy systems is expanding at the University of Arizona Tech Park, after winning millions of dollars in Pentagon research contracts and grants since last year.
Tucson tech: Military laser maker expanding at U of A tech park
Aug. 12, 2024
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Applied Energetics is expanding its headquarters site at The University of Arizona Tech Park at South Rita Road
Applied Energetics Inc.
Applied Energetics is adding 8,300 square feet to its 13,000-square-foot space at 9070 S. Rita Road, where the company relocated its headquarters and labs in 2021.
The company said the expansion will support the company’s anticipated future growth and provide more space for research, product development, training, testing, evaluation and production of its proprietary ultrashort-pulse lasers and directed-energy systems. Gregory Quarles, president and CEO at Applied Energetics, said the Tucson area has provided world-class talent while the Tech Park has supplied business support and infrastructure needed to help the company grow.
“This expansion represents an exciting milestone for our Tucson facility and supports our long-term strategy to scale our operations, invest in our infrastructure and execute on our strategic plans to be a leader in the development of directed energy technologies,” Quarles said. “We look forward to the continued growth of our workforce here as we advance our program activities with our customers.”
After some recent key hires, the company now has 14 employees. Founded as Ionatron Inc. in 2002, the company worked to develop directed-energy systems for the military, including a system to defeat improvised bombs, but after failing to win production contracts, it suspended operations in 2014.
The company relaunched in 2017, and in recent years has won a series of Pentagon research contracts to develop optical systems to defeat sensors used aboard aircraft, though many details of the programs remain classified or “controlled unclassified.” The company’s technologies are protected by 26 patents and 11 additional “Government Sensitive Patent Applications,” which are held under U.S. government secrecy orders and allow the company extended protection rights.
Applied Energetics’ space at the Tech Park, formerly occupied by laser maker Coherent/DILAS, is compliant with federal arms-control regulations and laser-safety standards and includes a 4,800-square-foot Class 1,000 clean room.