Goodrich wins contract for night vision

has been awarded a contract from the US Army's Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate to design, develop and deliver an indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) technology for use in high-definition, infrared night vision cameras. Financial details of the contract have not been released.

According to Goodrich the contract, announced at Asian Aerospace 2006, will further the development of high-resolution, high sensitivity, dual-wavelength cameras that can simultaneously produce images in visible and shortwave infrared (SWIR) wavelengths. This will allow users to capture images in darker conditions using a new wavelength band and will enable backward compatibility with older imaging technologies.

Goodrich's SWIR team says it is focusing its research and development on a design which minimises the weight and size of an optical assembly for long-range imaging. The new device will feature a higher resolution than is currently available in a small array, higher sensitivity in dark or low light conditions and a potential to lower cost per unit.