Army to kick off industry competition for next-generation laser-protecting eyewear

July 22, 2016

Army wants a new generation of goggles that safeguards soldiers' eyes from shrapnel, laser beams, sand and dust, and bright sunlight.

Conard Holton

Army land warfare experts are ready to kick off an industry competition to develop a new generation of laser-protecting goggles and other eyewear that safeguards soldiers' eyes from shrapnel, laser beams, sand and dust, and bright sunlight. Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Natick, Mass., issued a presolicitation Wednesday (W911QY-16-R-0043) for the Next Generation Eye Protection (NGEP) project.

The Laser Focus World take:

This parallels a recently announced contract awarded by the U.S. Air Force to increase laser eye protection for pilots.

Air Force contract announced Wednesday 20 July 2016

Teledyne Scientific & Imaging LLC, Thousand Oaks, California, has been awarded a $30,082,000, firm-fixed-price contract for Aircrew Laser Eye Protection (ALEP) spectacles. The ALEP spectacles provides aircrew members with enhanced protection against hazard and threat laser devices in combat and training situations while minimizing visual acuity degradation. They also provide sufficient protection to prevent permanent eye damage and temporary effects (glare, flash blindness, etc.) from laser weapons and devices. Work will be performed at Camarillo, California, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $6,399,772 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8606-16-C-6380).

About the Author

Conard Holton

Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.