Laser-induced pressure generation and surface modifications induced by laser-shock processing were investigated with the use of different laser conditions including a large range of pulse durations and wavelengths. With the use of several lasers sources, original results could be pointed out concerning the precise influence of laser parameters on the shock generation in water-confined plasma regime. The beneficial influence of short pulse durations (1 to IO ns) and the deleterious effect of short wavelengths (below 0.532 mu m) were demonstrated with the use of a VISAR Doppler velocimerty system. Lastly, beneficial effects of LSP were shown on many surface applications such as fatigue and fatigue contact resistance, pitting corrosion and stress corrosion cracking behaviours.