SA PHOTONICS, LLC

Los Gatos, CA · Defense · Acquired by CACI International (2021)

Augmented reality evaluation and testing systems for assessing operator trust and training effectiveness

Claim this profile

Follows are private to you and power your alerts

Updated Oct 23, 2026 · saphotonics.com

Sector: Defense
Headquarters: Los Gatos, CA
Total capital: $51.6M

Federal grants: $47.7M; 77 awards · 2015–2022; Rank in peer group#1 of 27
Private capital raised: None on recordNo Form D filings on SEC EDGAR. Some raises are not filed.
Federal contracts: $3.9M; 19 awards · Defense; Rank in Defense#582 of 1442
Granted patents: None on recordNo USPTO grants. Applications publish after 18 months.

Capital timeline

Latest events

Jun 2022Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Trust and Situational Awareness in Augmented Reality Soldier Training$746K
Jun 2022Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Freeform Optics for Small Arms Fire Control$1.1M
Dec 2021Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Hardened, Optically-Based Temperature Characterization of Detonation Environments$1.1M
Jul 2021Federal grantDefense · Phase I · High Fidelity Underwater Tracking System (UTS)$147K
May 2021Federal grantDefense · Phase II · SkyNet Airborne Hybrid FSO/RF Communication System$749K
Feb 2021Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Light Secure Special Warfare Display (LSSWD)$50K
Nov 2020Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Foveated Headworn Display Demonstrator$547K

Show 89 earlier federal awards

Jun 2020Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Laser Periscope Detection$749K
Mar 2020Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Freeform Optics for Small Arms Fire Control$173K
Mar 2020Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Triton™: Active Imaging through Fog$2M
Jan 2020Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Expanding Helicopter Pilotsâ Field of View with a Wide Field of View Night Vision System (WNVS)$1.8M
Dec 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Hardened, Optically-Based Temperature Characterization of Detonation Environments$162K
Dec 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Nanosatellite Payloads for Tactical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance$149K
Nov 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase II · EagleEye Multi-Aperture Airborne FSO Communication System$1.0M
Nov 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase II · AgileBeam RF Denied Free-Space Optical Communication System$1.4M
Nov 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase II · SkyLight Free-Space Optical Terminal for Cubesats$2.5M
Oct 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Foveated Headworn Display Demonstrator$111K
Oct 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Variable Attenuator for See-Through Day/Night Displays$116K
Aug 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase II · MicroLens Hyperspectral Imager for Standoff Chemical Detection$500K
Jul 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase I · EagleEye Airborne FSO Communication System$150K
Jul 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Environmentally – Qualified Miniaturized Robust Beam Director/Tracker for the Towed Optical Plume Simulator (TOPS)$1.3M
Jun 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Non-Contact Sled Position Tracking System$150K
May 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Integrated Visor Optics & Electronics for Head Mounted Display$108K
May 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Alternative Approach to Contact Type Analogue Data Slipring$1.5M
Apr 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Faster Optical Modem for Underwater Data Acquisition$100K
Mar 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Low Cost Headset-mounted Augmented Reality Display for Mobility Pilots and Crew$750K
Feb 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Modulated Underwater Laser Imaging System$1.6M
Feb 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Airborne Optical System (Flying Telescope)$150K
Feb 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Field Command Post Free Space Optical Communications (FSOC) Mesh Network$100K
Feb 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase II · 360 Degree Field of View Information in a 120 Degree Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) Display$575K
Dec 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Navigation-Grade Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS) Accelerometer Technologies$100K
Sep 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Blended Reality Solution for Live, Virtual, and Constructive Field Training$742K
Sep 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase II · MultiEye™ Free-Space Optical Communication System$1.0M
Sep 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Next Generation Aviation Helmet Mounted Display$100K
Aug 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Interchangeable Ballistic Dynamic Pressure-Temperature Sensor$100K
Jul 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase I · AgileBeam Reconfigurable Free Space Optical Communication System$150K
Jul 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Development of a Robust and Reliable Turbocharger Speed Sensor$100K
May 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Multispectral/Hyperspectral Imaging System for Small Boat Detection under Wake Clusters$125K
Feb 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Dynamic Pavement Deflection Measurement System for Roads and Airfields$100K
Jan 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase I · 360 degree field of view information in a 120 degree immersive virtual reality (VR) display$150K
Jan 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase I · HawkEye MicroLens Hyperspectral Imager for Standoff Chemical Detection$150K
Nov 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Finger Pulse Oximeter for Patient Identification and Predictive Algorithms$150K
Oct 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase II · CrossBeam GPS Crosslink and Long Range Free Space Optical Communication System$750K
Sep 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Automated Vision Tester Technology Development for Aircrew Clinical Vision Screening$1.0M
Sep 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Shipboard Cabling using Rugged Wavelength Division Multiplexing$1.5M
Aug 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Flash-LITE Supercontinuum-based Imaging LADAR$750K
Aug 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Novel CubeSat Payloads for Naval Space Missions$1.0M
Aug 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase II · SOCRATES Maritime Multi-access Optical Communication System$1.0M
Aug 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase I · NIIRS 9 Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) 5-Inch Gimbal$150K
Aug 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Improved Human Machine Interface Usability for Clinical Healthcare Providers to Enter Data into Electronic Health Records$150K
Jul 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Laser Protection for Day Cameras$1.0M
Apr 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Command and Control Human-to-Machine Interface$1M
Apr 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Affordable Compact HPRF/HPM Attack Warning System$2M
Feb 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Aircraft Carrier-based Precision Ship-Relative Navigation Guidance for Aircraft Landing under Emissions Control Conditions$1.0M
Jan 2017Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Complementary Piezo Energy Harvesting for Small Satellites in Eclipse$150K
Nov 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Identify and Exploit Attributes of a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Signal to Improve Sea Mine Detection and Identification with a Low False Alarm Rate$80K
Nov 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Compact Beam Direction and Tracking System for the Towed Optical Plume Simulator (TOPS)$1.5M
Sep 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Automated Vision Tester Technology Development for Aircrew Clinical Vision Screening$150K
Sep 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Augmented Reality Training for Dismounted Soldiers$1.5M
Sep 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Instrument for Measuring Millimeter-Wave Polarimetric Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function$987K
Aug 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Laser Protection for Day Cameras$150K
Aug 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Multi-Axis Precision Seeker-Laser Pointing Gimbal$150K
Aug 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Tactical Video Distribution to Shipboard Consoles, Video Walls, and Tablets$80K
Jul 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase I · SAFire E40/200 Low-cost 1064 nm Laser with Variable Pulse Width Capability$100K
Jul 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Improved Efficiency Thermoelectric Module for Thermal Control and Energy Generation$551K
Jul 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Neptune High Data Rate (HDR) Free Space Optical Communication System$80K
Jun 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase II · ADVANCED PROCESSING ELECTRONIC ATTACK (EA) Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM)$1.5M
Jun 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Rapid, Local Characterization of the Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior$150K
May 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Large Aperture Agile Scanning Mirror$80K
May 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase II · High-Power 3 Micron Fiber Based Laser System$1.5M
Feb 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Conformal, Random Access Beam Steering for Broadband Systems$150K
Dec 2015Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Command and Control Human-to-Machine Interface$145K
Aug 2015Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Low-Latency Embedded Vision Processor (LLEVS)$150K
Jul 2015Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Optimized Information Display for Tactical Air Control Party$150K
Jul 2015Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Topographic/HSI Active Transceiver (TOPHAT)$1.8M
Jun 2015Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Digital Multispectral Binocular System (DMBS)$726K
Mar 2015Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Next Generation Tactical Wearable Night Vision$150K
Aug 2012Federal contractDefense · SBIR II$1.5M
Aug 2012Federal contractDefense · Space Vehicles Advance Technologies (svat)$750K
Dec 2011Federal contractDefense · SBIR 1 - Active Vibration Control For Enhanced Satellite$150K
Nov 2011Federal contractDefense · Phase I SBIR To Sa Photonics, Llc. For Topic #: A11-115, Titled "heads-up Display For Control Of Robotic Vehicles".$150K
Nov 2011Federal contractDefense · Army SBIR Phase I$100K
Nov 2011Federal contractDefense · Status Report$80K
Aug 2011Federal contractDefense · STTR Topic N11A-T002$80K
Jun 2011Federal contractDefense · Army SBIR Phase I Dpph 448$100K
May 2011Federal contractDefense · Progress Report Topic N111-021$80K
May 2011Federal contractDefense · Research And Development In The Physical, Engineering, And Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)$80K
Apr 2011Federal contractDefense · Ph I Research&development$100K
Apr 2011Federal contractDefense · Mission Performance Measurement$100K
Mar 2011Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase I$100K
Mar 2011Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase I - Uhf Satcom Wideband Interference Mitigation$70K
Feb 2011Federal contractDefense · SBIR Ph I Threat Assessment Sensor Suite$100K
Feb 2011Federal contractDefense · SBIR 1 - Space Based Distributed Cooling$100K
Jan 2011Federal contractDefense · Sa Photonics SBIR I$100K
Jan 2011Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase I Proposal N103-221-0421$80K
Jan 2011Federal contractDefense · R&d STTR TOPIC#N10B-T049$100K

Federal awards are summed by year (96 awards); hover a bar for the split. Form D reports securities sold, which can differ from an announced round; filings are numbered in the order they were made.

Standing among 27 peers

Line = median

Defense · Instrument

Federal grants#1 · top 4%

Cumulative measures favor older companies. Rankings describe position today, not outcome. Below the median, ranks show as a band rather than a number.

Founders and team

No founders are linked to this company yet.

Founders appear once a person is matched to the company through its own patents, grants or filings. We never infer people from social profiles.

Checked: USPTO inventors; federal award principal investigators; SEC Form D related persons · Oct 23, 2026

Claim this profile to add your team

What it has protected

No granted patents are on record.

USPTO usually publishes applications 18 months after filing, so recent applications may not be visible yet. Patents assigned under a different entity name won’t match.

Checked: USPTO granted patents and published applications · Oct 23, 2026

IMAGINESTICS, LLCSimilar federal contract value in Defense · $3.9M in contracts
INVISIBLE PACK INCSimilar federal contract value in Defense · $3.9M in contracts
Gecko Robotics, Inc.Similar federal contract value in Defense · $3.9M in contracts
RAIDER TECHNOLOGIES LLCSimilar federal contract value in Defense · $3.9M in contracts
SYNCLESIS INCSimilar federal contract value in Defense · $3.8M in contracts
EBASE, LLCSimilar federal contract value in Defense · $3.8M in contracts

Regulatory activity · Defense

Sector-level, not company-level

11 Jun 2026Danger Zone; Waters of Carr Creek and Whitehall Bay in the Vicinity of the Naval Support Activity AnnapolisEngineers Corps
13 Mar 2026Federal Acquisition Regulation; Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01; IntroductionNational Aeronautics and Space Administration
13 Mar 2026Federal Acquisition Regulation: Trade Agreements ThresholdsNational Aeronautics and Space Administration
13 Mar 2026Federal Acquisition Regulation; Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01; Small Entity Compliance GuideNational Aeronautics and Space Administration
27 Aug 2025Federal Acquisition Regulation; Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-06; Small Entity Compliance GuideNational Aeronautics and Space Administration
27 Aug 2025Federal Acquisition Regulation; Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-06; IntroductionNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Rules are matched to sector, not to company. Recent activity in a sector is context rather than a signal about this business — until rules are matched to what a company actually builds, the section is shown as context and nothing more.

Sources

Federal grants from SBIR/STTR, NIH, NSF and DoD records. Federal contracts from USAspending.gov. Private capital from SEC Form D. Patents from USPTO. Publications from OpenAlex. Regulatory activity from the Federal Register. Press matched on company name.

How to read this page

Figures show associations in public records, not causes or predictions. Nothing here is investment advice. An em-dash means no record was found under this company's name, not that none exists.

Data freshness

SEC Form D filings through Oct 23, 2026. SBIR and STTR awards through Oct 21, 2026.