LightPath wins U.S. defense contract to develop germanium alternatives

LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) has been awarded a funded prototype agreement under the Critical Low-risk Electro-optic Alternatives for Resilience (CLEAR) program, sponsored by the Department of War's Advanced Materials Office, according to a company press release.

The agreement funds the continued development of LightPath's BlackDiamond chalcogenide glass materials as alternatives to germanium in electro-optic and infrared systems used for defense surveillance, targeting, and situational awareness. China, the dominant global supplier of germanium, has imposed export controls on the material since 2023. The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act also added germanium to covered materials restrictions and directed the Department of War to reduce reliance on covered nations for optical glass and optical systems.

The CLEAR program was established to accelerate the development of domestic alternative optical materials for defense applications. Under 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f), a competitively awarded prototype project that is successfully completed may be eligible for a follow-on production contract without further competition.

Sam Rubin, President and Chief Executive Officer of LightPath, said: "The Department of War is funding the maturation of an alternative to germanium for its own IR systems, and BlackDiamond was selected to do that work. That is a direct statement of government support for a germanium-alternative material in defense programs."

LightPath is based in Orlando, Florida, and manufactures BlackDiamond glass under an exclusive license from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. The company has additional facilities in Texas, New Hampshire, and Latvia.

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