The Rockwell Science Center (RSC) has received a four-year $5 million contract from the Department of Defense to establish a domestic manufacturing capability to produce thin film coatings for laser protective eyewear used in defense applications.
The key program objective is to develop a high-volume flexible manufacturing capability to produce the thin film coatings in support of Department of Defense performance and price goals. As part of the effort, sample spectacles, goggles, and visors will be delivered to the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force for evaluation.
The program is funded under Title III of the Defense Production Act that was enacted to ensure viable domestic production capabilities for items essential to national defense.
"The ever-increasing use of lasers presents a hazard in training and combat situations involving our ground, naval, and air forces," said Ray Linville of the Title III program office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. "This program helps ensure that our personnel will have a readily available supply of equipment that protects them in these situations."
The protective eyewear coatings to be demonstrated under this program were developed by Pilkington Optronics in St. Asaph, North Wales, Great Britain. Pilkington is assisting RSC in the transfer of this technology and establishment of the first domestic manufacturing source for these products.
"This program fits RSC's expanded business strategy to incorporate leading edge technologies in high-value products. These coatings will be manufactured in our new Camarillo, Calif. production facility," commented Derek Cheung, Vice President of Research and Director of the Science Center. "We have an extensive record of achievements in performing on Department of Defense programs."
RSC is a leader in cutting edge technologies in electronics, imaging and optics, material and computational sciences, and information technology. Its broad range of initiatives includes contract research, delivery of high-value products and services, as well as licensing of selected technologies.
Rockwell is a $7 billion electronic controls and communications company with global leadership positions in industrial automation, avionics and communications, and electronic commerce. The company employs about 40,000 people at more than 450 locations serving customers in more than 80 countries.
