Raytheon, an RTX business, has received a phase-one DARPA contract to develop an all-optical signal-processing system for the agency’s PICASSO programme. The work will focus on photonic circuits that process signals using light, rather than converting them into electrical signals for processing. Synopsys will provide design and simulation tools. No contract value, schedule, performance targets or intended operational system have been disclosed.
Raytheon’s Advanced Technology team will design and demonstrate the photonic circuit technology. In current photonic circuits, optical signals are converted into electrical form for data refinement and processing. Raytheon’s proposed approach would keep processing optical, potentially preserving signal strength and integrity as circuits become smaller and more complex.
PICASSO stands for Photonic Integrated Circuit Architectures for Scalable System Objectives. The programme addresses defense technology, but the announcement identifies no specific aircraft, aviation application or deployment plan. Raytheon links the potential capability to faster threat detection and response in contested environments, without publishing performance data or an operational timeline.
The company says the work draws on its photonics process-development and radio-frequency design experience, as well as its fielded military solutions. The first phase is focused on development and demonstration; further programme phases or system integration details were not provided.