Abstract: A process for perforating a metal sheet with clean holes of substantially uniform size and shape comprises placing a suitable transparent backing tape, such as an adhesive polyethylene tape, on one surface of the metal sheet. The assembly is placed in a fixture, a laser beam generated by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser is impinged on the opposite surface of the metal sheet, and the laser parameters are chosen to control the laser beam to penetrate the metal sheet and form a plurality of small tapered holes therein without penetrating the tape. A clean metal surface results around the holes with no recast structure or dross present in and around the holes. A drilled titanium sheet of the above type is particularly suited for utility as an outer wing leading edge of an aircraft and which provides good laminar flow control efficiency.