A subsidiary of Rafael and Elbit will develop an infrared sensor

The SCD company will develop a sensor that will be developed following a tender by DARPA - the agency for the development of advanced technologies of the US Department of Defense

The SCD company announced that it was awarded a contract by the US Department of Defense's Advanced Technologies Development Agency (DARPA) to develop a new technology of infrared sensors "XBn". The first contract will amount to 1.75 million dollars, but if all the stages of the development plan are completed, the total amount of the transaction is expected to reach 5 million dollars.

The development will focus on a new type of sensor in semiconductor technology in a mixed structure (hetero-structure). In such "blocking" devices, the dark current is lower than in existing sensors operating at the same temperature. In this way, it will be possible to operate the sensor at a "high" temperature of K150 and obtain performance similar to that of standard technology sensors working at temperatures of 80K.

Baruch Glick, CEO of SCD, said, "We see in this direct contract between an Israeli company and DARPA, recognition by the development agency of the American Department of Defense of our ability to carry out such a challenging development project, intended to be integrated into high-quality infrared systems."

About SCD

SemiConductor Devices (SCD), located at the Leshem Institute, in the Galilee Mountains, is a partnership between Elbit Systems LTD (50%) and Rafael (50%). The company develops and manufactures cooled and uncooled AA detectors and laser diodes. SCD offers a wide range of standard products or adapted to customer needs. SCD products are used in homing warheads, thermal cameras, smart bombs, navigation systems, laser rangefinders and laser designators.

Among SCD products: indium antimonide arrays, MCT arrays, vanadium oxide microbolometers, QCW and CW laser diodes.

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