Two companies with novel uncooled infrared technologies are hoping to jump on the bandwagon for low-cost thermal sensors. Although the two technologies are very different, they are similar in that they both rely on an effective conversion from infrared images to visible images that are then read out by means of a simple CCD or CMOS imaging array.
Aegis Semiconductor is spinning off its uncooled FPA technology to a new company called RedShift Systems, Inc.
Rheinmetall has bought the 50% ownership stake in AIM Infrarot-Module that had been held by DaimlerChrysler. The other 50% stake continues to be held by Diehl BGT Defence.
The Joint Common Missile (JCM) - an advanced missile with tri-mode-seeker being developed as a replacement for the air-to-ground Maverick, Longbow Hellfire and Hellfire missiles - continues its tenuous grip on government purse strings. After the JCM program was not included in the President’s FY06 defense budget, it appeared that the program was doomed to follow other cancelled missile programs.
Lockheed Martin’s Arrowhead™ targeting and piloting system has been selected to upgrade the United Kingdom's Apache AH Mk I helicopters in a $212 million program. Arrowhead™ is the U.S. Army's Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) program.
Raytheon Space & Airborne Systems has been awarded a $16.5 million contract to provide the electro-optic/infrared/laser designator (EO/IR/LD) payload for use on the Army's Extended Range Multi-Purpose (ERMP) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).