Over the past decade there have been several attempts to market laser television projectors. High cost, huge electrical power consumption and poor reliability have usually doomed these ventures. In order to be a viable alternative to commercially available projectors such as light valve and CRT projectors, the unique characteristics of lasers must be exploited. The laser projector should solve specific applications problems that cannot be solved by any other projector. Some of the unique characteristics of a laser are (1) high degree of collimation, (2) zero light persistence and (3) 100% color (hue) saturation.

This paper will describe how these unique characteristics are applied to solve specific training requirements for advanced weapons tactics trainers. These requirements include two full color targets and one monochrome target with dynamic distortion correction over the entire field of regard (360° horizontal, +90° to -50° vertical). Additional requirements include independent, non-interfering Night Vision Goggle training for the Pilot and Weapon Systems Officer. Recent developments toward achieving non-interfering full color area-of-interest displays for the Pilot and Weapon Systems Officer will be discussed.

The characteristics of available lasers will be reviewed and some recent improvements in electrical power conversion efficiency using upconversion, diode pumped second harmonic generation and fiber lasers will be described.