Tel Aviv: Israeli company SCD, specialising in the development and manufacture of a wide range of cooled and uncooled infrared detectors and high-power laser diodes, announced a new order from a North American customer for approximately 1,000 Sparrow MWIR detectors to be integrated in airborne payloads for critical tactical and homeland security missions.
Since its market debut in 2020, the Sparrow family has seen strong global adoption, with accumulated sales and orders now exceeding 8,000 units. The Sparrow stands out for its Low SWaP-C, MWIR video core, providing clear advantages in size, performance, and operational longevity. Its high reliability (MTBF) and energy efficiency deliver robust, high-quality imaging across a wide spectrum of tactical applications.
To support diverse operational requirements and fast integration across platforms, Sparrow detectors offer maximal system adaptability through SCD’s mature 10μm FPAs, available in HOT XBn and HFM formats.
The Sparrow is based on 3rd generation High Operating Temperature (HOT) MWIR technology at SCD. SCD provides more than 15 years of operationally proven HOT MWIR detectors with tens of thousands field proven with robust fabrication line and worldwide leading capacity.
“While our competitors are still struggling with prototypes based on first- generation HOT technology, SCD has been manufacturing thousands of HOT detectors annually for more than a decade,” said Shay Fishbein, VP for Business Development and Marketing at SCD.
“We maintain full vertical control over the development and fabrication of our HOT technology, which enables our customers to rely on consistent deliveries, exceptional product performance and readiness for operational deployment. This repeat order of 1000 units underscores the customer’s confidence in SCD’s mature, field-proven HOT technology,” added Fishbein.
Leveraging the operational success of the Sparrow, SCD developed the Sparrow-HD to address evolving field requirements. The Sparrow-HD incorporates the industry’s first 5μm pixel pitch, currently the smallest available, delivering more pixels on target and substantially improved detection and identification capabilities. As with the baseline, it is available in both HOT XBn and HFM, supporting a variety of integration needs.
A key design goal for both Sparrow models is maximum integration flexibility. Configurations allow for both vertical and horizontal (90-degree) orientations, facilitating rapid deployment in multi-functional handheld imagers (HHTI), loitering munitions, tactical UAV mini payloads, aerial gimbals, remote weapon stations, sniper thermal weapon sights, and perimeter security sensors.
The Sparrow’s compact and efficient architecture enables adoption in applications that were previously limited by the size, weight, and power demands of older sensor technologies.
Additional advantages include fast time-to-image (<4/5 minutes), a simple industry-standard electrical interface (camera link / MIPI), low readout noise and dark current, and robust field-proven reliability.
“This major order underscores the accelerated demand for compact, high-performance IR detectors in advanced airborne and multi-domain platforms,” said Mark Fydenkevez, CEO-SCD USA (a subsidiary of SCD).
“With the Sparrow series, customers benefit from rapid integration cycles and the operational flexibility to address both current and next-generation mission profiles. Our US team worked closely with the integrator to ensure all performance, reliability, and deployment requirements were fully met. This milestone continues our commitment to joint innovation and customer success,” remarked Fydenkevez.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
