LightPath Technologies Awarded Phase 2 Funding in U.S. Defense Department Partnership to Qualify Additional Germanium Substitutes
LightPath Technologies (NASDAQ: LPTH) has been awarded Phase 2 funding by the U.S. Department of Defense to qualify additional BlackDiamond (BD) chalcogenide glasses as substitutes for germanium. This follows the successful Phase 1 qualification of three proprietary BD glasses, which have already replaced germanium in several defense programs. The Phase 2 funding of approximately $0.5 million will cover the qualification of six more materials to MRL-9 (Material Readiness Level).
LightPath's BD materials offer superior performance to germanium in infrared imaging systems, addressing supply chain concerns due to Chinese export restrictions. The materials exhibit unique properties, including a negative thermo-optic coefficient and multi-spectral capabilities, enabling better performance and reduced size, weight, and cost in defense systems.
LightPath Technologies (NASDAQ: LPTH) ha ricevuto un finanziamento di Fase 2 dal Dipartimento della Difesa degli Stati Uniti per qualificare ulteriori vetri chalcogenidi BlackDiamond (BD) come sostituti del germanio. Questo segue il successo della qualifica di Fase 1 di tre vetri BD proprietari, che hanno già sostituito il germanio in diversi programmi di difesa. Il finanziamento di Fase 2 di circa 0,5 milioni di dollari coprirà la qualifica di altri sei materiali fino a MRL-9 (Livello di prontezza del materiale).
I materiali BD di LightPath offrono prestazioni superiori rispetto al germanio nei sistemi di imaging in infrarosso, affrontando le preoccupazioni sulla catena di approvvigionamento a causa delle restrizioni alle esportazioni cinesi. I materiali presentano proprietà uniche, tra cui un coefficiente termoottico negativo e capacità multi-spettrali, consentendo migliori prestazioni e una riduzione delle dimensioni, del peso e dei costi nei sistemi di difesa.
LightPath Technologies (NASDAQ: LPTH) ha sido galardonada con financiamiento de Fase 2 por parte del Departamento de Defensa de los EE. UU. para calificar más vidrios chalcogenidos BlackDiamond (BD) como sustitutos del germanio. Esto sigue a la exitosa calificación de Fase 1 de tres vidrios BD patentados, que ya han reemplazado al germanio en varios programas de defensa. El financiamiento de Fase 2 de aproximadamente $0.5 millones cubrirá la calificación de seis materiales más hasta MRL-9 (Nivel de preparación del material).
Los materiales BD de LightPath ofrecen rendimiento superior al germanio en sistemas de imagen infrarroja, abordando preocupaciones sobre la cadena de suministro debido a las restricciones de exportación chinas. Los materiales exhiben propiedades únicas, incluyendo un coeficiente termoóptico negativo y capacidades multispectrales, lo que permite un mejor rendimiento y una reducción en tamaño, peso y costo en los sistemas de defensa.
라이트패스 테크놀로지스(LightPath Technologies) (NASDAQ: LPTH)는 미국 국방부로부터 2단계 자금 지원을 받아 추가적인 블랙다이아몬드(BlackDiamond, BD) 칼코겐화 유리를 게르마늄의 대체재로 인증받게 되었습니다. 이는 이미 3가지 독점 BD 유리에 대한 1단계 인증이 성공적으로 이루어진 후의 일이며, 이 유리들은 여러 방위 프로그램에서 게르마늄을 대체하였습니다. 약 50만 달러의 2단계 자금 지원은 추가로 6개 자재를 MRL-9(자재 준비 수준)까지 인증하는 것을 지원할 것입니다.
라이트패스의 BD 자재는 적외선 이미징 시스템에서 게르마늄보다 우수한 성능을 제공하여 중국의 수출 제한으로 인한 공급망 우려를 해결합니다. 이 자재들은 음의 열광학 계수와 다중 스펙트럼 기능을 포함한 독특한 특성을 가지고 있어 방위 시스템에서 더 나은 성능과 함께 크기, 무게, 비용을 줄입니다.
LightPath Technologies (NASDAQ: LPTH) a reçu un financement de Phase 2 du ministère de la Défense des États-Unis pour qualifier des verres chalcogénides BlackDiamond (BD) supplémentaires comme substituts du germanium. Cela fait suite à la qualification réussie de la Phase 1 de trois verres BD exclusifs, qui ont déjà remplacé le germanium dans plusieurs programmes de défense. Le financement de Phase 2 d'environ 0,5 million de dollars couvrira la qualification de six autres matériaux jusqu'à MRL-9 (Niveau de préparation des matériaux).
Les matériaux BD de LightPath offrent une performante supérieure au germanium dans les systèmes d'imagerie infrarouge, répondant ainsi aux préoccupations concernant la chaîne d'approvisionnement en raison des restrictions d'exportation chinoises. Les matériaux présentent des propriétés uniques, notamment un coefficient thermo-optique négatif et des capacités multispectrales, permettant de meilleures performances ainsi qu'une réduction de la taille, du poids et des coûts des systèmes de défense.
LightPath Technologies (NASDAQ: LPTH) wurde mit Phase-2-Finanzierung des US-Verteidigungsministeriums ausgezeichnet, um zusätzliche BlackDiamond (BD) Chalkogenidgläser als Ersatz für Germanium zu qualifizieren. Dies folgt auf die erfolgreiche Phase-1-Qualifizierung von drei proprietären BD-Gläsern, die bereits in mehreren Verteidigungsprogrammen Germanium ersetzt haben. Die Phase-2-Finanzierung von etwa 0,5 Millionen US-Dollar wird die Qualifizierung von sechs weiteren Materialien zu MRL-9 (Material Readiness Level) abdecken.
Die BD-Materialien von LightPath bieten überlegene Leistung gegenüber Germanium in Infrarot- bildgebungssystemen und gehen Bedenken hinsichtlich der Lieferkette aufgrund der chinesischen Exportbeschränkungen nach. Die Materialien zeigen einzigartige Eigenschaften, darunter einen negativen thermo-optischen Koeffizienten und multispektrale Fähigkeiten, die eine bessere Leistung sowie reduzierte Größe, Gewicht und Kosten in Verteidigungssystemen ermöglichen.
- Awarded Phase 2 funding of $0.5 million from U.S. Department of Defense
- Successful Phase 1 qualification led to replacement of germanium in several defense programs
- BlackDiamond materials offer superior performance to germanium in infrared imaging systems
- Addresses supply chain concerns due to Chinese export restrictions on germanium
- New materials designed into multiple programs of record
- Potential for expanded use cases and new cutting-edge designs
- None.
Insights
This news is highly impactful for LightPath Technologies and the defense industry. The Phase 2 funding of
The successful qualification of new BlackDiamond materials in Phase 1 has already led to their inclusion in several programs of record, completely replacing Germanium. This demonstrates the material's viability and potential for widespread adoption in defense applications. The unique properties of these materials, such as negative thermo-optic coefficients and multi-spectral capabilities, offer significant advantages over traditional Germanium-based systems.
For investors, this development signals strong growth potential in LightPath's defense sector business. The company's proprietary technology addresses a critical need in the industry, potentially leading to increased contracts and revenue streams from defense customers. The ongoing partnership with the DoD also enhances LightPath's credibility and market position in the defense optics sector.
The qualification of LightPath's BlackDiamond materials as a Germanium substitute is a significant technological advancement. These chalcogenide glasses offer superior performance in infrared imaging systems, addressing both supply chain vulnerabilities and technical limitations of Germanium-based optics.
Key advantages include:
- Athermalization capabilities due to negative thermo-optic coefficients
- Multi-spectral functionality across all four infrared bands
- Potential for reduced size, weight and cost in optical systems
The ongoing qualification process to MRL-9 (Material Readiness Level 9) is crucial, as it signifies the highest level of material readiness for defense applications. This could open doors for widespread adoption in various defense programs, potentially disrupting the current Germanium-dominated market.
From an investor perspective, LightPath's exclusive license for these materials from the Naval Research Laboratories provides a strong competitive advantage and intellectual property protection, which could translate into long-term market leadership in defense optics.
Strategic Defense Partnership Follows Successful Phase 1 Qualification of Additional LightPath Proprietary BlackDiamond™ Material Variants
Qualification is a process in which suppliers demonstrate that their materials meet the required specifications and performance standards (MRL, Material Readiness Level) set by the DLA for use in defense applications. DLA qualification funding is made in two phases. The first phase of
The second phase covers the remaining six materials with funding totaling approximately
LightPath's proprietary BlackDiamond materials can uniquely be used instead of Germanium in infrared imaging systems while concurrently offering superior performance, which addresses end-customer supply chain concerns given the Chinese export restrictions on Germanium announced in 2023.
"We initiated Phase One of this qualification program with the DLA after multiple stakeholders inside the DoD realized the urgent need to find replacements for Germanium," said Sam Rubin, President and Chief Executive Officer of LightPath. "Phase One was significant success, resulting in the qualification of new proprietary BlackDiamond materials. These materials are now designed into multiple programs of record and demonstrate significant additional value beyond simply replacing Germanium."
"These new materials exhibit unique properties such as a negative thermo-optic coefficient, an important attribute for making systems athermalized, enabling the design of devices that are unaffected by temperature changes. These are also true multi-spectral materials that can uniquely be used across all four infrared imaging bands without the need for a separate camera for each spectral band, as is the case with the legacy systems used today. Due to the inherently superior qualities of our BD materials, customers have been able to achieve better performance alongside reduced size, weight and total systems cost as compared to legacy Germanium-based systems.
"In Phase Two, LightPath will continue working with DLA to qualify additional BD glasses to be included in DoD systems. Additional qualification of BD glasses will expand the potential use cases of our proprietary materials, leading to new, cutting-edge designs, similar to the example demonstrated by 'Mantis', our multi-spectral camera. We look forward to progressing our ongoing partnership as we seek to qualify our newest proprietary BD materials with the DLA," concluded Rubin.
About LightPath Technologies
LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LPTH) is a leading global, vertically integrated provider of optics, photonics and infrared solutions for the industrial, commercial, defense, telecommunications, and medical industries. LightPath designs and manufactures proprietary optical and infrared components including molded glass aspheric lenses and assemblies, custom molded glass freeform lenses, infrared lenses and thermal imaging assemblies, fused fiber collimators, and proprietary Black Diamond™ ("BD") chalcogenide-based glass lenses. LightPath also offers custom optical assemblies, including full engineering design support. The Company is headquartered in
LightPath's wholly-owned subsidiary, Visimid Technologies, was acquired in July 2023, and specializes in the design and development of customized infrared cameras, for the industrial and defense industries. Such customized cameras are often sold together with customized optical assemblies from LightPath.
LightPath's wholly-owned subsidiary, ISP Optics Corporation, manufactures a full range of infrared products from high-performance MWIR and LWIR lenses and lens assemblies. ISP's infrared lens assembly product line includes athermal lens systems used in cooled and un-cooled thermal imaging cameras. Manufacturing is performed in-house to provide precision optical components including spherical, aspherical and diffractive coated infrared lenses.
For more information on LightPath and its businesses, please visit www.lightpath.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
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FAQ
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