The Energy Department will award 73 grants worth up to $72 million combined to help fund phase II research-and-development projects of 68 small businesses across 24 states. DOE said Wednesday the grants, worth an average of $1 million each, will be funded via the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs and cover a two-year base […] More

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has chosen 19 small businesses to receive grants worth a combined $3.3 million to research and develop a wide range of technology platforms. NIST chose the companies based on their submitted R&D proposals that seek to address advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, biomanufacturing, cyber-physical, technology transfer and advanced sensing for manufacturing challenges, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. DOC noted grantees […] More

Kent Optronics has received a potential five-year, $47.6 million basic ordering agreement to produce wide field-of-view night vision technology for the U.S. Navy. The Defense Department said Friday the company will also provide night vision systems and associated retrofit and data services to the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command as well as to the U.S. Special Operations Command, […] More

Northrop Grumman and the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering have formed a new research organization focused on optical materials and nanophotonic devices. The Northrop Grumman Institute of Nanophotonics and Nanomaterials will facilitate collaboration between university and industry researchers in an effort to explore properties of atomic-level structures and materials, the company said Thursday. “The creation […] More

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity has chosen five companies to help the agency develop portable laser-based technology for the detection of biological agents, chemical weapons, narcotics and explosives at a range of up to 100 feet, Nextgov reported Friday. Frank Konkel writes IARPA will award funds to Leidos, LGS Innovations, Block Engineering, Physical Sciences and Photonics through […] More

LGS Innovations has completed work on a laser platform designed to improve the capability of light detection and ranging systems to detect and analyze objects of interest. The company developed the laser system with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s strategic technology office under the Laser Radar Technology program, LGS said Tuesday. LRT is a […] More

Research and Markets has released a new report that predicts the global night vision devices market will grow from $11 billion in 2013 to $14 billion by 2020. The growth estimate represents a 2.98 percent compound annual growth rate during the forecast period, Research and Markets said Thursday. Research and Markets noted in the report […] More

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded LGS Innovations a potential 15-month, $1.9 million contract to provide a neutrally buoyant cable for an underwater-based fiber optic network as part of the Tactical Undersea Network Architectures initiative. DARPA’s TUNA program aims to develop optical fiber-based systems in an effort to temporarily reinstate network connectivity between tactical […] More

L-3 KEO will produce eight universal modular masts for U.S. Navy submarines under a new contract with the Naval Sea Systems Command. The L-3 subsidiary will build the individual masts for Virginia-class submarines and up to 10 additional shipsets under a four-year option of the deal, L-3 said Thursday. “We are very pleased to have this opportunity to extend L-3 […] More

Intevac Photonics has been awarded a $24 million contract to supply night vision cameras for the U.S. Army’s Apache Helicopter’s pilot night vision sensor program. The new contract extends a previous deal the Army awarded to the Intevac Inc. subsidiary in 2013, Intevac said Monday. Intevac Photonics is scheduled to complete the delivery of electronic […] More

A Northrop Grumman business unit has received a Commissioner’s Business Recognition Award from the Orange County School District, Florida Education Foundation and Florida Department of Education for the company’s partnerships with local schools. Northrop said Wednesday its laser systems business has worked on programs such as the Wekiva High School Laser Photonics Career Academy and the High School Involvement […] More

DRS Technologies has launched a new suite of radiometric camera cores designed to measure temperature and provide imagery. The Tamarisk Precision Series line of products feature infrared sensor technology, calibration and new developer tools for integration with the systems of original equipment manufacturers, DRS said Tuesday. DRS developed Tamarisk 320 with a 17-micron pitch and infrared […] More