MAY 15, 2007--Sofradir (Veurey-Voroize, France; www.sofradir.com), a developer and manufacturer of advanced infrared (IR) detectors, has been awarded a multimillion US Department of Defense contract to supply second-generation mercury cadmium telluride Dewar detector cooler assemblies for a US Army program. Network Centric Systems business of Raytheon Company (McKinney, TX, USA) placed the order with Sofradir. The award provides Raytheon and the US Army with another qualified source of critical night-vision technology. Sofradir expects the first deliveries to be made later this year.
Sofradir's new penetration of the US market as an equipment supplier in a major program comes less than a year after the European company's decision to make the US market a priority and to take steps to reinforce its presence there. "Our push into the US market, stronger ties with US customers and suppliers, as well as our investment in a new facility are all part of our ambitious program to expand. We plan to be a leading merchant supplier of IR detectors in the USA and elsewhere in the world, and this contract brings us one step closer," he added.
Sofradir directly exports more than 60% of its products. Customers include the US Army, Thales, Sagem, Selex, Alcatel Alenia Space, and the European Space Agency.
