Advanced Photonix (API) has been awarded a contract by an undisclosed military contractor to provide photodiode for the US Navy’s guided-missile weapons system.
Under the $1.6m contract, the company will deliver the photodiode within the next 18 months to the contractor, which acts as a prime supplier for the US Navy’s guided-missile weapons programme.
The supersonic and lightweight guided-missile weapons system has been designed to provide exceptional protection for vessels of all sizes, and is considered to be the world’s most modern ship self-defence weapon.
Developed to destroy anti-ship missiles, the quick-reaction, fire-and-forget missile features autonomous dual-mode passive radio-frequency-to-infrared guidance design to eliminate the need for shipboard support after the missile is launched, providing high-firepower capability for engaging multiple threats simultaneously.
API president and CEO Richard Kurtz said: "This vital missile programme has been one of the navy’s most reliable missile-guided systems, and we are proud to have been a part of this successful endeavour.
"This is an ongoing programme, which we have been fortunate to have for the past 15 years and [we] expect this programme to continue into the future."
The photodiodes will convert light into current while serving as a detector on the missile’s proximity sensor.
The guided missile needs four detectors, mounted 90 degrees away from each other. The missile’s airframe rotates like a rifle bullet for greater accuracy.
