Space Photonics Lands Air Force Gig

Genesis client Space Photonics Inc. on April 17 signed a new R&D contract with the Air Force Research Lab at Kirkland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

The $750,000 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research deal is for the development of advanced free space optical communication links for spacecraft and aircraft applications. The firm specializes in networking systems and components specifically designed for military and commercial aircraft use.

This latest contract gives SPI a three-year SBIR contract total of $3.2 million.

Chuck Chalfant, SPI’s president and CEO, said the first wave of products should be ready by 2004. He said the firm plans an expansion to capitalize on the growing commercial market for “building-top” systems for metro-area networks.

That market was $120 million in 2000 but is projected to be $2 billion by 2006.

“Fiber optics sends light through a glass fiber that’s embedded in the ground,” Chalfant said. “But free space optical communication means sending a light signal without the fiber. The Air Force and NASA are especially interested in the possible satellite applications.”