BluGlass Ltd (ASX:BLG) has secured a A$560,000 purchase order from a US-based tier-1 aerospace and defence contractor as part of a broader A$1.25 million development program to advance its gallium nitride (GaN) laser technology for next-generation aerospace and defence systems.
The order marks the first phase of a multi-stage development program expected to run over 14 to 20 months. BluGlass will develop custom packaged visible GaN distributed feedback (DFB) lasers and gain chips designed for dual-use defence and aerospace applications.
The initial A$560,000 contract will be completed over seven to nine months, with payments tied to technical milestones typical for development programs of this type. Progress through those milestones will determine whether the second phase of the program proceeds.
The Australian semiconductor developer said the work follows successful prototype testing of its gain chips and reflects growing interest in its visible laser technologies from defence and aerospace customers.
BluGlass’ DFB lasers and amplification chips are designed to integrate both a laser and optical amplifier within a single package. The approach aims to deliver high power and precision at visible wavelengths while reducing system size, weight and power requirements for customers.
“This repeat order from a global defence prime reflects the quality of our visible laser technology and the continued execution of our project-to-product strategy,” BluGlass CEO Jim Haden said.
The company noted that successful completion of the development program could open the door to follow-on development work and potential long-term product revenue.
BluGlass manufactures GaN laser diodes for industrial, defence, biomedical and scientific applications, with operations in both Australia and the United States.