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Semi Conductor Devices (SCD) has announced three new contracts totaling approximately $40 million for its Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) sensing solutions, with deliveries set to begin in 2027.
The rapid proliferation of UAVs, emerging aerial threats, and expanding requirements for border protection and long-range stand-off detection are driving a global surge in demand for high-performance infrared systems across diverse defense platforms. Modern operations increasingly require High-Definition (HD) performance, extended detection and identification range, compact size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C), alongside affordable system integration and high-volume availability.
Addressing this operational shift through a broad portfolio of field-proven MWIR products, mature High Operating Temperature (HOT) technology, and established high-volume manufacturing capabilities, SCD enables defense customers to transition quickly from system integration to volume production.
Kobi Zaushnizer, CEO of SCD, said, “MWIR is no longer a capability reserved only for a limited number of high-end platforms. The modern battlefield is creating a much broader need for high-performance infrared sensing – from detecting drones and protecting borders to enabling tactical maneuvering and stand-off detection at extended ranges.”
Zaushnizer added, “The challenge is therefore not only to achieve outstanding detector performance. The industry must be able to deliver HD MWIR with the right SWaP-C and cost, with proven reliability, and in the quantities and timeframes required for operational deployment. This is where SCD’s combination of technology, mature products and industrial scale makes a real difference. We are ready to support our customers as MWIR moves from a specialized capability to a broadly deployed operational capability.”
The new contracts build upon global momentum for SCD’s core MWIR detector lineup, which includes the Sparrow, Sparrow-HD, Mini Blackbird, and Crane product families.
Designed for tactical and multi-domain applications, the compact, low-SWaP-C Sparrow family is built on HOT MWIR technology and has achieved over 8,000 unit sales and orders worldwide since its 2020 launch. It serves high-volume deployments such as tactical UAVs, loitering munitions, remote weapon stations, airborne payloads, and perimeter security. The Sparrow-HD variation incorporates a 5µm pixel pitch to deliver more pixels on target for superior detection, recognition, and identification while maintaining a compact footprint.
For high-definition airborne and tactical payloads, the Mini Blackbird 1280 HFM balances long-range imaging performance with low power consumption in a ruggedized architecture. For maximum resolution, the Crane detector utilizes a 5-megapixel, 5µm pixel array engineered for ultra-high-resolution, long-range detection and tracking applications, including advanced missile warning systems.
Together, these platforms demonstrate the company’s manufacturing scalability across the operational spectrum, ranging from mass-produced tactical sensors to high-end airborne and space-grade systems.
SCD will be showcasing its infrared technologies at AUSA 2026 in Washington, D.C., from October 12-14 at Booth 367.
