A simple and highly reliable package consisting of a 1‐cm‐long AlGaAs laser diode array mounted directly on a silicon microchannel cooler has been demonstrated. 3.4×109shots were logged on this device at an average optical output of 8.75 W with only a 6% increase in current required to hold the light output constant. This extrapolates to a current doubling lifetime of 1.6×1011shots. The thermal impedance was also measured to be 0.014 °C/(W/cm2).