December 1, 2006, Princeton, NJ--Goodrich Corporation has been awarded a contract from the U. S. Air Force Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab (UAVB; Nellis Air Force Base, NV) to develop and fabricate a shortwave-infrared (SWIR) sensor for the Spectre-Finder initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to rapidly demonstrate the potential of a small, air-launched and recoverable unmanned aircraft system to provide off-board sensing in support of future Air Force Special Operations Command concepts of operation.
Under the terms of the contract, Goodrich's SUI team in Princeton will develop a SWIR camera payload assembly (SUI was formerly Sensors Unlimited, which was acquired by Goodrich in October, 2005). The technology involved includes a 640 x 512 indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) camera, custom dual-field-of-view lens, and laser pointer for use in day or night operation to allow reliable imaging and performance in any weather or environmental conditions.
SUI has long been involved in the design and production of SWIR detectors, arrays, cameras and systems using advanced InGaAs imaging technology for industrial, commercial, military, agricultural, and scientific uses.
