Space Photonics, SCHOTT North America Enter Agreement

Fayetteville-based Space Photonics Inc. announced Thursday it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with SCHOTT North America Inc.

The agreement is for the commercialization of Space Photonics’ patented LaserFire Free Space Optical Communications Systems for military and intelligence customers. Company president and CEO Chuck Chalfant deemed SCHOTT the “perfect partner for the manufacturing and marketing side of our LaserFire product” during a news conference at the University of Arkansas’ Research and Technology Park.

SCHOTT will begin manufacturing the LaserFire system at its Southbridge, Mass., facility later this year. Under the agreement, Space Photonics will receive a royalty payment for each system sold in the United States, though SCHOTT officials declined to disclose an estimated price for the system.

The system incorporates an automated beam pointing, acquisition and tracking technique. This method ensures a more robust network when optical performance is critical, regardless of available bandwidth, distance, adverse weather conditions or movement.

Because the terminal uses low-power infrared lasers, it is nearly impossible for adversaries to detect and intercept the beam while the system is operating. The high-capacity communications system operates about 1,000 times faster than a typical Ethernet connection.

Space Photonics completed development of the system under a four-year Air Force Advanced Spacecraft Technology contract after earlier development under Small Business Innovation Research Programs.

Chalfant said he expects “a few” units to be sold next year, with volume increasing to perhaps 50 to 100 in 2014.

“We think our company can grow dramatically in the next five years,” Chalfant said.

That’s true in terms of both job creation and revenue, Chalfant added. Space Photonics currently has 12 employees, 10 of which are UA graduates.

The technology is ideal for the aerospace and defense industries, but SCHOTT vice president of government affairs Jim Stein said other applications are imminent. They could include systems for first responders or in providing rural broadband access.

The partnership announced Thursday includes research and development for additional products. Space Photonics is Genesis Technology Incubator client.