The current status and the principal directions of efforts to develop
crystalline optical media (COM) for civilian and specialized instrumen
tation are considered. Data are presented that relate to the productio
n and use of crystalline optical materials for a broad spectral interv
al 0.3-30 mum, active and nonlinear optical single crystals, and COM w
ith controllable properties. The trends in efforts to develop new COM
and prospective areas of their application are discussed.