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Teledyne FLIR Defense Awarded $168M IDIQ Contract: Week in Brief: 11/15/24

Photonics.com
Nov 2024WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 15, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Commerce signed two separate preliminary memoranda of terms under the CHIPS and Science Act to provide Corning, a specialty glass and ceramics manufacturer, up to $32 million in proposed direct funding, and Powerex, a designer and packager of systems, up to $3 million in proposed direct funding. The funding would allow Corning to increase production of its HPFS Fused Silica and EXTREME ULE Glass for deep UV and extreme UV lithography machines and photomasks. Powerex plans to modernize and expand its production and semiconductor power module packaging facility in Youngwood, Pennsylvania.

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The U.S Army’s M1135 Stryker. Courtesy of Tad Browning.

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BOSTON — Teledyne FLIR Defense has been awarded a five-year, $168.3 million indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Army for low-rate initial production to upgrade the M1135 Stryker’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV) Sensor Suite. The company received its first delivery order, valued at $7.5 million. The NBCRV Sensor Suite will feature capabilities of the FLIR Defense R80D SkyRaider drone integrated with FLIR’s MUVE B330 biological detection payload designed for small unmanned aerial systems.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Quantum computing company IonQ is developing photonic integrated circuits and chip-scale ion trap technology for trapped ion quantum computing in partnership with nanoelectronics developer imec. By moving traditional bulk optical components into integrated photonic devices, IonQ aims to reduce overall hardware system size and cost, increase qubit count, and improve system performance and robustness. IonQ and imec have worked to prototype photonic and ion trap technologies since 2021 and the expanded engagement aims to develop advanced trap fabrication processes that will allow much richer trap and device functionality in the future, according to the companies.

SILVERWATER, Australia — BluGlass, a semiconductor manufacturing technology developer, has entered into an AUD $2.9 million ($1.9 million) contract with North Carolina State University as part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s $2 billion Microelectronics Commons Program. Under the Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors Hub, BluGlass will advance the capabilities of its laser portfolio for quantum computing and intelligence applications, including maturing its single-frequency visible gallium nitride distributed feedback laser technology for commercial applications.

LONDON — Developer of AI optimization technology Oriole Networks has selected EnSilica, an application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) developer, as its ASICs partner. EnSilica has also been awarded a contract for the design and supply of Oriole’s Photonics Controller ASICs to be used in its optical network switch products.

PITTSBURGH — Excelitas Technologies plans to consolidate the four production facilities dedicated to the development and manufacturing of Noblelight products currently located in the Rhine-Main region of Germany into a single expanded site in the same region by the end of 2027. Excelitas expects to invest more than $20 million in this initiative with the objective of improving operational efficiency. The company completed its acquisition of Noblelight from Heraeus in January.

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Sony Space Communications Corporation (SSCC), a provider of inter-satellite communication solutions, has signed a contract with Astro Digital US, Inc., a satellite systems and mission support services provider, for the design, manufacture, and launch of two microsatellites. The satellites will carry an SSCC optical terminal and showcase SSCC's optical communications technology by establishing high data-rate Lasercom links with each other, as well as with terminals on the Earth. The satellites are expected to be launched in 2026.

SINGAPORE — Natural resources company Vedanta Limited plans to invest close to $500 million in its group company, AvanStrate Inc. (ASI), a display glass manufacturer. The strategic investment aims to drive expansion within ASI, strengthening its focus on R&D as well as its manufacturing capabilities and product offerings. ASI aims to accelerate the development of next-generation glass products designed for advanced packaging and potential applications in the semiconductor, biotechnology, automotive displays, and other high-growth sectors while exploring collaborative partnerships.

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Blue Laser Fusion CEO Shuji Nakamura (left) and RSE CEO Franco Cotana. Courtesy of Blue Laser Fusion.

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ROME — Blue Laser Fusion, a fusion energy company, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico, RSE S.p.A., an energy sector research company, to initiate joint R&D activities on a commercial-scale inertial fusion energy (IFE) power plant. The activities, which will be carried out in three phases, will include an analytical stage, the building of a prototype small-scale commercial IFE reactor, and a third, concluding one, to launch a prototype of a larger-scale commercial IFE reactor.

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Perovskite quantum dot inks created through Avantama’s  synthesis process. Courtesy of Ocean Tomo Transactions. 

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CHICAGO — Avantama AG, a developer of materials for electronics used in optical and electronic coatings, has put up for sale its perovskite quantum dot (QD) intellectual property portfolio and related know-how and manufacturing assets. The company’s portfolio has more than 220 assets covering innovations including processes, compositions, formulations, films, and devices for the commercialization of semiconductor nanoparticle and QD inks and films, essential for perovskite solar cells, SWIR sensors and LCD, QD-OLED, QD-microLED, and QD-EL displays. Ocean Tomo Transactions is representing Avantama in this asset transaction.More news & features