Defense Optics

Component Design and Manufacturing Expertise
Photograph courtesy of Cpl. Matt Tippin

Component design and manufacturing expertise

  • I², NIR, SWIR, and MID-IR Objectives
  • Beam Combiner, Image Blending, and Fusion Optics
  • Range Finder Collimators and Windows, Retroreflectors, and Wedge Prisms
  • Laser Designators
  • Reticle Prisms
  • EMI Shielding
  • Beam Shaping Optics
left quotation mark EO Lenses perform much better than our current supplier's
– they also delivered quickly. 
right quotation mark

Manufacturing Capabilities

Custom Manufacturing
  • Specialize in Designs for Manufacturability – We’ll help take you from design to prototype to volume production
  • Optical Glass, Fused Silica, Crystalline, Plastic, and Chalcogenide Materials Available
  • State-of the-Art Manufacturing Locations in USA, Singapore, and Japan.

Learn More

Optical Component SpecificationsPlanoPrismSphere RadiusAsphere RadiusCylindrical
Diameter (mm) 3 - 500 2 - 150 1 - 200 10 - 150 15 - 120
Length (mm) 2 - 350 2 - 105 2 - 140 10.5 - 85
Width (mm) 2 - 350 2 - 105 2 - 140 10.5 - 85
Dimensional Tolerances (mm) 0.010 0.05 0.010 0.010 0.010
Center Thickness Tolerance (mm) 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010
Parallelism Tolerance (arcsec) 5 30
Wedge Tolerance (mm) 0.005 0.005 0.025
Surface Accuracy λ/20 (Flatness) λ/20 λ/20 λ/10 λ/20
Surface Quality 10-5 10-5 10-5 10-5 10-5
Angle Accuracy (arcsec) 1
Pyramidal Accuracy (arcsec) 5
Concave >5.0 >30.0 >10.0
Convex >2.5 >5.0 >5.0
Radius Tolerance (%) 0.05 0.05 0.1
Total Sag (mm) <25

Edmund Optics® offers the world’s largest inventory of commercial-off-the-shelf optical components for easy integration into a wide range of applications. These products are fully characterized with design and prescription files that allow quick and easy modeling, as well as functionalized analysis. By partnering with Edmund Optics® at the beginning of the design process, designers of systems serving the defense industry can rapidly produce prototypes and quickly bring products to full rate production.

IR Molding Capabilities
IR Molding Capabilities
(L) Thermal Imaging, (R) IR Molding
  • Ideally Suited for Volume Defense, Life Sciences, and Industrial Applications
  • High Precision Molding of Nontraditional Materials to Support OEM Production at a Competitive Price
  • Key Applications: Thermal Imaging, Thermal Weapon Sight, Vehicle Vision Enhancement, Long Range Surveillance, and Thermography

Learn More
Download Brochure

Coatings
< class="nomobile"img alt="Coatings" src="/EPiServer/CMS/Content/contentassets/0943574639684bbaa89fd2c757816e41/lab1.jpg,,4882?epieditmode=False" height="264" width="395" />
State-of-the-art Coating Facility in NJ
  • Hydrophobic Coatings
  • EMI / ITO Coatings
  • Infrared Coatings (SWIR, Thermal)
  • Thermal Resistant Filters
  • Multi-Layer Dielectrics
  • Dichroic Filters
  • Beam Combiners (Polarizing and Non-Polarizing)
  • Hot and Cold Dielectric Mirrors
  • High Laser Damage Threshold Coatings
  • Transparent Conductive Coatings
  • Anti-Reflection Coatings
  • Laser Mirrors
  • Metallic Mirrors
  • Neutral Density Filters
  • Fluorescence Filters
  • Notch (Minus) Filters
  • High Performance Edge Filters (LWP and SWP Filters)

Learn More

Modified COTS Optics
Modified COTS Optics
Modified COTS Optics
  • Customized in 2 - 3 Weeks, Many Within 10 Days
  • 19,500 Stock Optics Available for Quick Modification
  • From Concept to Design to Prototype to Volume Production - We Make it Easy!

Learn More

Optical Design Expertise
Optical Deisgn Software

Optical Design
  • Optical, Optomechanical, and Manufacturing Engineers Experienced in Design for Manufacturability
  • UV, Visible, NIR, SWIR, MID-IR, and Thermal Designs

Learn More

Quality and Metrology Capabilities

Quality
ISO
  • ISO 9001:2008
  • ANSI / ASME Y14.5
  • ISO 10110
  • MIL-C-48497A
  • MIL-STD-810
  • MIL-PRF-13830B
  • Fully ITAR Compliant Factories
Metrology
  • State-of-the-Art Optical Metrology
  • Automated Equipment for Optical Parameters such as EFL, Distortion, Field Curvature, and Concentricity
  • Radiometrics: Straylight, Veiling Glare, etc
  • Semi-Automated MTF Measurement Equipment
  • Environmental Testing Equipment such as Vibration, Humidity, and Immersion
Metrology

COTS Optical Components

COTS Windows
COTS Windows

COTS Windows are used in defense or security applications to separate multiple environments. COTS Windows are designed to protect sensitive optical components or people from harmful laser beams. COTS Windows use a variety of substrates, coatings, or a combination of the two to reflect only specific wavelengths. COTS Windows are a low cost alternative to developing custom optical windows. COTS Windows designed for use in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared are available.

Standard SubstrateWavelength RangeCoating OptionsStandard Sizes
Fluorides: BaF₂ , CaF₂ , MgF₂ 0.120 - 12 µm Uncoated 5 - 50 mm
Fused Silica 0.2 - 2.2 µm Uncoated, 5 BBAR & 4 Laser Line Options 5 - 50 mm
Sapphire 0.2 - 5.5 µm Uncoated & Metalized Edge Options 2.5 - 75 mm
Salts: KBr, NaCl 0.25 - 26 µm Uncoated 13 - 50 mm
N-BK7 & Visible Glasses 0.35 - 2 µm Uncoated, 5 BBAR, 7 Laser Line & Hydrophobic Options 5 - 200 mm
Zinc Selenide and Zinc Sulfide 0.4 - 18 µm Uncoated & 2 BBAR Options 10 - 75 mm
Silicon 1.2 - 7 µm Uncoated & 1 BBAR Option 10 - 50 mm
Germanium 2 - 14 µm Uncoated & 3 BBAR Options 10 - 75 mm
COTS Prisms

COTS Prisms are used to reflect or redirect light in a wide variety of defense or security applications. COTS Prisms use a variety of substrates, coatings, or a combination of the two to redirect particular wavelengths at specific angles. COTS Prisms are a low cost alternative to expensive custom components. Edmund Optics offers a wide variety of COTS Prisms.

Standard GeometriesFunctionSubstratesStandard Sizes
Right Angle, Penta, Amici Roof Prisms 90° Deviation N-BK7, N-SF11, Fused Silica 0.18 - 75 mm
Half Penta, Schmidt Prisms 45° Deviation N-BK7 10 - 25 mm
Corner Cube Prisms Retroreflection N-BK7, Fused Silica 7.16 - 76.2 mm
Light Pipes, Tapered Light Pipes Homogenization N-BK7, Fused Silica 2 - 20 mm
Wedge, Anamorphic, Rhomboid Prisms Beam Manipulation N-BK7, N-SF11, Fused Silica 5 - 50 mm
Dove Prisms Image Rotation N-BK7 0.5 - 25 mm
Equilateral, Littrow, Ultrafast Prisms Dispersion N-BK7, N-SF11, LaKL21, SF10, Fused Silica 5 - 50 mm
COTS Beamsplitters

COTS Beamsplitters are used to split a laser beam into separate beams in defense or security applications. COTS Beamsplitters use a variety of substrates, coatings, or a combination of the two to reflect a portion of the laser beam while transmitting the rest. COTS Beamsplitters are low cost alternatives to expensive custom components. A wide range of beamsplitters are available to meet the needs of many applications.

Standard Beamsplitter TypesWavelength RangeR/T RatioStandard Sizes
Plate Beamsplitters 0.25 - 1.1 μm 20/80, 25/75, 30/70, 40/60, 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, 75/25, 80/20 10 - 356 mm
Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters 0.3 - 1.1 μm Reflect S / Transmit P 5 - 50 mm
Non-Polarizing Plate Beamsplitters 0.35 - 1.064 μm 50/50 12.5 - 50 mm
Dichroic Beamsplitters 0.4 - 0.8 μm NA 12.5 - 50 mm
Standard Cube Beamsplitters 0.4 -0.7 μm 30/70, 50/50, 70/30 5 - 50 mm
Polarizing Plate Beamsplitters 0.42 - 0.67 μm Reflect S / Transmit P 12.5 - 25 mm
Lateral Displacement Beamsplitters 0.43 - 1.08 μm 50/50 10 - 20 mm
Non-Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters 0.43 - 1.62 μm 50/50 5 - 50 mm
Infrared Plate Beamsplitters 2 - 14 μm 50/50 5.4 - 50.8 mm
COTS Lenses

COTS Lenses are used to focus or diverge light for many defense or security applications. COTS Lenses feature a range of substrates, coatings, or a combination of the two for optimized performance in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared. COTS Lenses may also be used to correct image aberrations. COTS Lenses are an excellent, low cost alternative to expensive custom components. Products designed for a wide range of wavelengths are available for a variety of applications’ needs.

Standard Lens TypesFocal Length RangeSubstratesStandard Sizes
Achromatic Lenses 1.5 - 1900 mm Visible Glasses, Fused Silica, Calcium Fluoride, Silicon, Germanium, Zinc Sulfide, Galium Arsenide 1 - 128 mm
Aspheric Lenses 0.7 - 100 mm Visible Glasses, Fused Silica, Plastic, Silicon, Germanium, Zinc Selenide, IG6 1.8 - 50 mm
DCX Lenses 3 - 500 mm Visible Glasses, Fused Silica 3 - 50 mm
Negative Achromatic Lenses -7.5 to -150 mm Visible Glasses 6.25 - 40 mm
PCV & DCV Lenses -6 to -250 mm Visible Glasses, Fused Silica 3 - 50 mm
PCX Lenses 0.6 - 1000 mm Visible Glasses, Fused Silica, Calcium Fluoride, Silicon, Germanium, Zinc Selenide 1 - 75 mm

COTS Optics

Cots Filters

COTS Filters and Polarizers are used to transmit certain wavelengths or polarization states of light for a range of safety and security applications. COTS Filters are designed to transmit a certain wavelength or wavelengths while reflecting unwanted wavelengths. COTS Polarizers transmit only specific polarizations of light. COTS Filters and Polarizers are an easier, low cost alternative to developing similar custom components. Products designed for different wavelengths or polarizations are available to suit many applications’ needs.

Filter TypeWavelength RangeOptical Densities
Single Substrate Bandpass Filters 0.3 - 2.0 µm ≥4, ≥6
Traditional Bandpass Filters 0.193 - 10.6 µm ≥3, ≥4
Notch Filters 0.355 - 1.064 µm ≥6
Longpass Filters 0.266 - 7.3 µm ≥2, ≥4
Shortpass Filters 0.4 - 1.6 µm ≥2, ≥4
Dichroic Filters 0.4 - 1.2 µm N/A
Color Glass Filters 0.285 - 1.0 µm N/A
Neutral Density Filters UV, VIS, NIR, IR 0.1 - 4.0
COTS Assemblies
COTS Assemblies

COTS Assemblies are used to provide imaging or beam manipulation capabilities to a wide range of defense applications. COTS Assemblies consist of a selection of products such as objectives, lenses, or beam shapers designed to be easily integrated into defense systems. COTS Assemblies offer a quicker, lower cost alternative to developing custom optical components. A wide variety of COTS Assemblies are available for a range of applications’ needs.

Assembly TypeFeatures
Imaging Lenses Fixed Focal Length, Telecentric, Variable Magnification, and Fixed Magnification Designs
Eyepieces Large Field of View and Eye Relief Optimized for Use with Microdisplays
Night Vision ENVG Eyepiece and Objective, PVS-14 Eyepiece and Objective
Relay Lenses Achromatic Pairs, Designs Optimized for 1:1 Imaging
Laser Beam Expanders Fixed Power and Variable Versions Designed for UV, Visible, and IR Lasers
Reflective Objectives Magnifications Ranging from 15X - 74X with Aluminum or Gold Coatings
 
Sales & Expert Advice
 
or view regional numbers
Easy-to-Use
QUOTE TOOL
enter stock numbers to begin