Scalable High Strength Spinel Reconnaissance Window Manufacturing Navy SBIR FY2013.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2013.2 Topic No.: N132-125 Topic Title: Scalable High Strength Spinel Reconnaissance Window Manufacturing Proposal No.: N132-125-0874 Firm: Technology Assessment & Transfer, Inc. 133 Defense Highway, Suite 212 Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Contact: Jeffrey Kutsch Phone: (410) 987-1656 Web Site: www.techassess.com Abstract: The Navy has critical and enabling needs for large, strong transparent windows for electro-optical sensor applications on surface vessels, subsurface vessels and airborne systems that are currently beyond the state-of-the art. The hardness, erosion resistance, and broadband transparency of transparent spinel coupled with large size manufacturing capability makes it a leading candidate albeit its relatively modest strength. A systematic approach for significant strength enhancement of spinel windows with a high probability of success is described in depth. Tradeoffs between the proposed methods include magnitude of strength enhancement, optical properties, ease of fabrication and cost. A clear path to rapid scalability and production of 28" x 30" x 0.6" spinel windows and larger with minimal investment is outlined. Benefits: Large, high strength, high quality optical Spinel windows offer significant performance, weight and logistics cost avoidance payoffs for Navy surface and subsurface vessels. Equivalent benefits will be seen in Navy, Marine, Air Force and Army airborne and ground vehicle systems. A wide variety of spinoff applications ranging from ultra light weight armor to bar code scanner windows will occur in the civil and private sectors. Return