News: Optoelectronics
9 March 2026
BluGlass enters AUS$1.25m development program with US tier-1 defence prime for visible GaN DFB lasers and gain chips
BluGlass Ltd of Silverwater, Australia — which develops and manufactures gallium nitride (GaN) blue laser diodes based on its proprietary low-temperature, low-hydrogen remote-plasma chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD) technology — has entered a new AUS$1.25m multi-phased development program, expected to progress over a 14–24-month period, to deliver its gallium nitride (GaN) distributed feedback (DFB) lasers and gain chips to a US-based tier-1 defence prime. The firm has received the first AUS$560,000 (US$390,000) purchase order. The new order follows successful prototype testing of BluGlass’ gain chips for use within novel dual-use aerospace applications.
The customer is a premier American aerospace & defence technology company that delivers advanced systems and services across commercial, military and business aviation sectors. Its portfolio includes avionics, navigation systems, and information management solutions, all designed to enhance efficiency, safety and connectivity for customers.
The order is for the custom development of BluGlass’ visible GaN DFB lasers and gain chips, packaged to integrate both a laser and an optical amplifier in a single solution. These DFB lasers and amplification chips are designed in conjunction to deliver high power and precision at visible wavelengths, supporting next-generation applications while optimizing size, weight and power. The integrated solution also reduces customer system integration costs and complexity.
The first AUS$560,000 order will be executed over a seven- to nine-month period with payments linked to technical milestones which are customary for orders of this nature. The second phase of the program is subject to the successful delivery of these customary technical milestones.
The success of the full development program could lead to substantial follow-on development and eventual long-term product revenues.
“This repeat order from a global defence prime reflects the quality of our visible laser technology, the continued execution of our project-to-product strategy, and the momentum we are building with industry leaders,” says BluGlass CEO & executive director Jim Haden. “Importantly, this order represents a significant commitment to advance our DFB lasers further through the development cycle, supporting the transition to customer deployment. Our reputation for solving complex customer challenges continues to see our technology being designed and integrated into the products of tomorrow, building a long-term pipeline of GaN laser orders,” he adds.
“Our latest order reinforces the importance of our US manufacturing capability, particularly for tier-1 customers where national security, supply chain resilience, and government procurement regulations are essential prerequisites,” Haden continues. “Our work with the US Department of War’s CLAWS [Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors] Hub has enabled us to become an approved off-ramp commercial supplier of visible GaN lasers, paving the way for us to secure additional orders from defence and government customers.”
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