Corning boosts expertise in military hyperspectral imaging with acquisition of NovaSol

Jan. 22, 2015
CORNING, N.Y., 22 Jan. 2015. Specialty glass expert Corning Inc. in Corning, N.Y., is boosting the company's expertise in aerospace and defense hyperspectral imaging technology with their acquisition of NovaSol in Honolulu.

CORNING, N.Y., 22 Jan. 2015. Specialty glass expert Corning Inc. in Corning, N.Y., is boosting the company's expertise in aerospace and defense hyperspectral imaging technology with their acquisition of NovaSol in Honolulu.

Corning executives announced today that they have acquired the assets of NovaSol, a provider of advanced hyperspectral imaging systems. The terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

NovaSol specializes in complex military, industrial, medical, and environmental applications. The company designs and builds active and passive optical systems involving the spectrum from the ultraviolet to the infrared with panchromatic to ultra-spectral resolution.

Founded in 1998, the company specializes in the research and development of next-generation active and passive optical systems, including electro-optical systems and optical communications systems. The company also has facilities in San Diego.

NovaSol has core expertise in sensors, optics and stabilization miniaturization technologies, performance modeling and simulation, software, spectral and spatial algorithms, and data analysis.

Related: Raytheon to move hyperspectral sensor program ACES Hy forward with podded flight tests

NovaSol has customers in the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Navy, including the Naval Research Laboratory, Naval Air Systems Command; Naval Sea Systems Command; U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM); Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA); Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO); Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL); and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The company also provides technology to prime defense contractors including Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Exelis, Textron, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, L3, QinetiQ, FLIR, and SAIC, company officials say.

Corning officials say they will integrate NovaSol into the Corning Advanced Optics business unit in Corning’s Specialty Materials division in Corning, N.Y.

“NovaSol has a proven history of providing best-in-class performance in innovative imaging solutions," says Curt Weinstein, vice president and general manager of Corning Advanced Optics.

Related: Hyperspectral VNIR sensor for small hand-launched UAVs introduced by Headwall Photonics

NovaSol’s technology portfolio, combined with Corning’s expertise in optical imaging systems, can deliver high-performance, low-cost imaging solutions, Corning officials say. The NovaSol acquisition also enables Corning to address emerging industrial markets for advanced spectral imaging applications.

“Corning’s extensive production capabilities in optical systems and components and their deep commitment to research and development are synergistic with NovaSol’s core competencies in imaging systems and optical communications,” says NovaSol President and CEO Rick Holasek.

Corning Advanced Optics is a supplier of advanced optical solutions to the aerospace and defense industry for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) applications. The company has one of the world’s largest diamond turning manufacturing operations located in Keene, N.H., company officials say.

Corning offers precision machining and thin film coating for integrated advanced multi and hyperspectral sensor systems and opto-mechanical assemblies. Corning also produces missile domes and radomes and telescope mirror blanks for astronomy applications in Canton, N.Y.

For more information contact Corning Advanced Optics online at www.corning.com/specialtymaterials/advanced_optics, or NovaSol at www.nova-sol.com.

About the Author

John Keller | Editor

John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Military Aerospace, create an account today!