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Kopin Wins $21.5M Follow-on Contract for U.S.-Made Thermal Imaging Assemblies for Defense Prime
May 5, 2026 | PRNewswireEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Kopin Corporation, a leading provider of application-specific optical systems and high-performance microdisplays for defense, training, enterprise, industrial, consumer and medical products, announced it has been awarded a $21.5 million follow‑on production contract to manufacture a custom thermal‑imaging eyepiece assembly for a major U.S. defense prime contractor. This award expands Kopin’s growing backlog and reinforces the Company’s role as a trusted supplier of American‑made, mission‑critical vision systems.
The custom eyepiece module is a critical component of a detachable, man-portable thermal weapon system and is composed of Kopin’s U.S.‑manufactured microdisplay, precision optics, drive electronics and ruggedized field‑ready enclosure housing. The assembly enables U.S. warfighters to detect, identify, and engage threats in the harshest environments - day or night.
“This award reflects the trust our customers place in our mission‑ready vision systems,” said Iwan Dodd, SVP of Business Development and Strategy. “By manufacturing these thermal weapon‑sight modules domestically, we strengthen the defense industrial base and ensure our warfighters have access to equipment that performs in the harshest conditions. We are proud to support those who protect our nation by delivering technology that enhances survivability and operational advantage.”
At a time when global threats are evolving rapidly, this technology is essential to ensuring warfighters maintain a decisive advantage and return home safely. Kopin’s vertically integrated U.S. manufacturing model helps strengthen domestic supply chains, reduce foreign dependency, and ensure that critical components remain secure, reliable, and available when warfighters need them most.
With over 400,000 mission critical solutions delivered across several generations of defense programs, Kopin remains committed to advancing U.S.‑built vision‑system technologies that improve situational awareness and help ensure that the men and women who protect our nation are equipped to prevail – and return home safely.
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