LightPath to Supply Infrared Cameras for US Navy Shipboard Program
LightPath Technologies, through its recently acquired subsidiary G5 Infrared, has secured a $2.2 million contract for infrared cameras from L3Harris Technologies.
This deal supports the US Navy’s Shipboard Panoramic Electro-Optic/Infrared (SPEIR) Program, with the cameras set to be delivered later this year.
The SPEIR Program aims to integrate narrow and wide-field view detection and cueing capabilities for anti-ship cruise missile defense, countering fast attack craft and fast inshore attack craft. It will also address threats from drones, enhance mobility, and support anti-terrorism and force protection operations.
G5’s advanced infrared cameras will be integrated into every US Navy surface ship, with the first installations slated for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
The award “will enhance the capabilities of the system, ensuring increased effectiveness and operational readiness for our naval force,” President and Chief Executive Officer of LightPath Sam Rubin said.
Rubin further emphasized that the SPEIR Program is critical to the service’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to strengthen passive electronic support capabilities.
“By integrating G5’s advanced camera systems, L3Harris will deliver an imaging solution that meets the rigorous demands of the Navy’s operational environment,” he added.
Enhancing Growth
Lightpath’s rationale for acquiring G5 included adding a “high-end cooled infrared camera” to the company’s product portfolio to enhance its growth in the military optics segment.
Among the company’s other offerings is its proprietary BlackDiamond chalcogenide-based glass materials, sold under exclusive license from the US Naval Research Laboratory.
LightPath’s primary manufacturing site is located in Orlando, Florida, with additional facilities in New Hampshire, Texas, China, and Latvia.