Kopin Partners with BlueHalo for the Development of New Advanced Simulated Binoculars & Monoscope Products
WESTBOROUGH, Mass. – Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN) a leading provider of application-specific optical solutions and high-performance micro-displays for defense, enterprise, consumer, and medical products, today announced it has been awarded a contract from BlueHalo LLC (BlueHalo) for the design, development, and production of advanced simulated binoculars and monoscope products for use in their Advanced Stinger Trainer (AST) system. Both products will significantly increase performance over those currently available in similar systems and add to Kopin’s well-established line of Training & Simulation products.
“These new simulated binoculars incorporate the very latest in Kopin’s display technology to facilitate highly realistic training for U.S. and NATO forces. We are pleased that Kopin is expanding our customer base with new partners like BlueHalo who has trusted Kopin with developing and producing these critical systems.”
BlueHalo’s next-generation AST – a fully immersive Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) – provides Stinger teams with operational and tactical training in various virtual environments against multiple air threats. Kopin’s products, which are driven by a computer image generator, will incorporate a positional/directional tracking sensor to provide a realistic simulation of the equivalent fielded products. They utilize Kopin’s high-performance high-resolution color organic light emitting diode (OLED) display to provide near eye-limiting resolution and will be coupled with Kopin’s custom viewing optics to provide outstanding visual performance.
This initial contract award provides for development and fielding in the first of what is expected to be upgrades of multiple training installations, supporting numerous armed forces over the next several years. BlueHalo has developed Stinger training facilities for the U.S. Army Air Defense School at Fort Sill, OK; the North Dakota Army National Guard in Grand Forks; and the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, CA and Cherry Point, NC. In December, the BlueHalo team was awarded a $30 million contract from the Netherlands Ministry of Defense Materiel and IT Command to develop and deliver an AST system at Lieutenant General Best Barracks in Vredepeel, Netherlands.
“Military training systems are experiencing a significant increase in demand as many of the world’s armed forces react to current world events, providing their personnel the opportunity to develop required operational skills through realistic virtual training while limiting costly and logistically complex live fire testing,” stated Bill Maffucci, the Kopin’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy. “These new simulated binoculars incorporate the very latest in Kopin’s display technology to facilitate highly realistic training for U.S. and NATO forces. We are pleased that Kopin is expanding our customer base with new partners like BlueHalo who has trusted Kopin with developing and producing these critical systems.”
About Kopin
Kopin Corporation is a leading developer and provider of innovative display and optical technologies sold as critical components and subassemblies for defense, industrial and consumer products. Kopin’s technology portfolio includes ultra-small Active-Matrix Liquid Crystal displays (AMLCD), Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) displays and Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays, a variety of optics, and low-power ASICs. For more information, please visit Kopin’s website at www.kopin.com.
About Blue Halo
BlueHalo is purpose-built to provide industry-leading capabilities in the domains of Space, C-UAS and Autonomous Systems, Cyber, and AI/ML. BlueHalo focuses on inspired engineering to develop, transition, and field next-generation capabilities to solve the most complex challenges of our customers’ critical missions and reestablish our national security posture in the near-peer contested arena. Learn more at www.bluehalo.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which are subject to the safe harbor created by such sections. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “can,” “will,” “estimates,” and variations of such words and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such “forward-looking statements,” which speak only as of the date made, and advise readers that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, estimates, and assumptions by us that are difficult to predict. These forward-looking statements may include statements with respect to our belief that this is an initial award and there will be follow-on orde; and our expectations that there will be upgrades of multiple training installations, supporting numerous armed forces over the next several years. imaging. Various factors, some of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by us or on our behalf, are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements that may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as may otherwise be required by the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Important factors that could affect performance and cause results to differ materially from management’s expectations are described in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors; Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; and other parts of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023, or as updated from time to time our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
