Company Profile
Photonis Defense
Company Overview
Photonis Defense provides state of the art technologies and products pertaining to power tubes, microwave traveling wave tubes, night vision and digital vision solutions to the markets we serve.
Our products can be found across the globe and are used by the US Department of Defense and the US Department of Energy.
Some of our products are also used by federal, state and local agencies and a selection of our innovative night and digital vision technologies are available to the commercial market.
Company History
The history of Photonis Defense, Inc., dates back to 1942, when plant construction began in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. During World War II, RCA operated the Navy-built manufacturing facilities producing radio and microwave tubes. After the war, RCA Corporation acquired the facilities and moved other business activities to the Lancaster plant. Subsequently, Lancaster became the home for the production of black and white television picture tubes, color TV tubes, camera tubes, Closed Circuit Video Equipment (CCVE) and motion-sensing light control switches.
In 1983, the New Products Division (NPD) of RCA Corporation was founded. The mission of NPD was to establish new businesses and provide inventive, advanced products for the corporation’s future. The 1986 acquisition of RCA by General Electric Company forced a change in strategy and resulted in the divestiture of RCA’s Lancaster facility.
On July 14, 1987, the NPD management team led by Dr. Erich Burlefinger, purchased the New Products Division and founded Burle Industries. In the business segment of Electronic Security Equipment and Systems, Burle directed resources and talents to be the leading systems supplier in the world. In the business segment of Electron Tubes, Burle continued to emphasize quality of product and excellent service to customers.
On April 28, 1995, Burle sold the Electronic Security Equipment and Systems business in an effort to concentrate on the expansion of the photomultiplier, imaging, and power tube product lines. Burle, building on its expertise in photo optics, acquired the Scientific Detector and Spectroscopy Products business of Galileo Corporation located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
In July 2005, the Photonis Group acquired Burle through a stock purchase making the Photonis Group the 2nd worldwide leading manufacturer in the field of photo-detection. The Photonis Group then established Photonis USA Pennsylvania, which also housed the Galileo Corporation which was re-named as Photonis USA (Sturbridge). Photonis USA Pennsylvania acquired Triton ETD, thereby expanding its Electron Tube business into Traveling Wave Tubes (TWT), TWT amplifiers and Microwave Power Modules.
The Photonis Group splits Photonis USA Pennsylvania into two separate companies naming them Photonis Defense, headquartered in Lancaster, PA and Photonis Scientific, headquartered in Sturbridge, MA. Photonis Defense operates under a Special Security Agreement with the Defense Security Service which enables them to maintain a classified facility clearance.
Notable Products / Brands
Photonis, Photonis Defense, Vyper, PD-PRO
Notable Clients
Elbit Systems of America, Israeli Air Force, L3 Communications, Northrop Grumman, Brookhaven National Lab, Fermi National Lab, British Broadcasting Corporation, DLA, NAVSEA, NAVAIR, AFEWC, Mercury Systems, ECI Defense Group, US Customs and Border Patrol, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,
Benefits
Annual Bonus Plan available for salaried personnel.