Sofradir of Chatenay-Malabry, which makes cooled infrared (IR) detectors based on mercury cadmium telluride (MCT/HgCdTe), indium antimonide (InSb), quantum-well infrared photodetector (QWIP) and indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) technology, has announced a new research and innovation partnership with French government aerospace & defense research and technology organization Onera of Palaiseau (both near Paris, France).
The partners have committed to a five-year project aimed at developing disruptive technologies in IR detection in order to provide OEMs with more advanced capabilities in thermal imaging. The innovations should also enable equipment makers to address future expectations in the performance of optronics systems, where IR detection is key. In addition, the project aims to accelerate the transfer of Onera's research to Sofradir, increasing the global market competitiveness of both Sofradir and its customers.
IR detectors are at the center of multiple military, space, commercial and scientific applications (thermal imagers, missile seekers, surveillance systems, targeting systems or observation satellites), and their performance and price are critical to the competitiveness of optronics systems.
Sofradir and Onera have previously collaborated on other research projects involving IR detection. The latest Partner Research Innovation (PRI) agreement (a new type of French public-private contract enabling the transfer of technology and know-how from Onera to industry) is the first that the two organizations have signed together.
Sofradir and Onera are collaborating once again to break down the technological barriers in infrared by exploring new possibilities in optical integration and other techniques," says Sofradir's chairman & CEO Philippe Bensussan. "Onera is known for its vision, vast knowledge and expertise in aerospace and defense system design," he adds. "We have high expectations about what these advantages will bring to our customers who design optronics systems for defense, space and commercial applications."
The project involves transferring emerging technologies and know-how from Onera, making them ready for industrial processing. The team will carry out research on and develop new techniques for IR detectors, such as integrated optics, greater compactness, improved functionality and performance of thermal imaging equipment.
"This Partner Research Innovation agreement is further evidence of industry's strong interest in Onera's advanced research," reckons Onera's acting managing technical director Thierry Michal. "The long-term commitment Sofradir and Onera are giving this project will pave the way for major technological advances."
