Paper 14037-34
Paper 14037-34
Expanding the reach of SWIR sensing for affordable military systems
29 April 2026 • 9:30 AM - 9:50 AM EDT | National Harbor 10
Abstract
Short-wave infrared (SWIR) detectors, known for their superior imaging performance, have historically been deployed on high-end, long-range military platforms. The integration of Asynchronous Laser Pulse Detection (ALPD) with SWIR sensors has further enabled sophisticated laser-guided targeting capabilities, providing significant advantages over conventional four-quadrant cell solutions.
This work explores strategies to extend the application of SWIR detector technology to cost-sensitive military systems, including soldier-portable devices and munitions.
Recent advancements such as 10 um pitch Readout Integrated Circuits (ROIC) capable of precise laser pulse frequency measurement, fabrication with enhanced yield, cost-effective InGaAs processes, and alternative material systems for SWIR sensing have opened new opportunities for wider adoption.
We present the capabilities of a high-performance VGA-format InGaAs-based detector with ALPD (exemplified by the SWIFT EI), and a comparison drawn from public sources of the costs and benefits of detectors leveraging the same ROIC but utilizing alternative photosensitive layers. While conventionally hybridized InGaAs detectors demonstrate higher performance with longer range ALPD, other approaches offer compelling potential for manufacturing cost reduction with shorter range ALPD.
Presenter
Michael Richardson
SCD SemiConductor Devices (Israel), Quantum Imaging, Inc. (United States)
Michael J. Richardson is Technical Director at SCD.USA and has been leading teams developing advanced imaging systems for over 20 years. His work has focused on defense applications including sensors for soldier systems, terrestrial, naval, and aerial vehicles, and has spanned X-ray to infrared.