An optical assembly includes an optical subassembly containing a prefabricated long wavelength laser optically coupled to a prefabricated short wavelength laser located in a housing. The optical subassembly may be removably installed in the housing in which the short wavelength laser is contained. The short wavelength laser optically pumps the long wavelength laser resulting in a long wavelength laser output. The optical subassembly allows the independent fabrication, optimization and testing of the short wavelength laser and the long wavelength laser.