SURFACE OPTICS CORP.

San Diego, CA · Defense · Private

SWIR-MWIR/LWIR hyperspectral imaging sensor with real-time processor and detection algorithms for hypersonic missile tracking

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Updated Oct 23, 2026 · surfaceoptics.com

Sector: Defense
Headquarters: San Diego, CA
Total capital: $54.7M

Federal grants: $5.1M; 10 awards · 2016–2026; Rank in peer group#74 of 164
Private capital raised: None on recordNo Form D filings on SEC EDGAR. Some raises are not filed.
Federal contracts: $49.7M; 139 awards · Defense, NASA, National Gallery o; Rank in Defense#154 of 1442
Granted patents: None on recordNo USPTO grants. Applications publish after 18 months.

Capital timeline

Latest events

Sep 2026Federal grantNASA · Phase I · Phase I SBIR - High-dynamic-range Polarimetric Near Infrared Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function System For Space-instrument Coatings And Stray-light Suppression$225K
Jun 2025Federal grantDefense · Phase I · New SBIR Ph I Award$140K
Jun 2025Federal grantDefense · Phase I · SBIR Phase I AF251-0009-0089 - Miniature Visible-band Video Camera For Afterburner Probes, Hypersonic Propulsion Systems, And Combustion Driven Test Facilities$140K
Jul 2024Federal grantDefense · Phase I · STTR Phase I Topic N24A-T015$140K
Jun 2024Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Research And Development$1.0M
Apr 2024Federal contractDefense · Compact Dyson-based Midwave Infrared Hyperspectral Imager For Attritable Platforms$180K
Jul 2023Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Detection and Tracking of Hypersonic Missiles from Glide-to-Terminal Phase using LightShift Infrared Spectral Sensors$140K

Show 142 earlier federal awards

Jul 2023Federal contractDefense · Kick-off Briefing Materials & Fwa Cert.$240K
Jun 2023Federal contractSmithsonian Instit · Hyperspectral Imaging System Vnir$67K
Jun 2023Federal contractDefense · Lightshift Spectropyronmeter Remote Emissivity Measurement System For Spacecraft Material Testing$180K
Aug 2022Federal contractNASA · Hand-held Emissometer/reflectometer$54K
Aug 2022Federal contractNASA · Procurement Of 410 Solar Measurement Reflectometer$31K
Apr 2022Federal contractDefense · SOC-100 Annual Support Plan$19K
Aug 2021Federal contractNational Gallery o · Camera Conversion$5K
Aug 2021Federal contractNASA · Annual Maintenance$19K
May 2021Federal contractDefense · One (1) SOC-100 Hemispherical Reflectometer And One (1) 410-DHR Measurement Head$351K
Jan 2021Federal contractDefense · SBIR 1 N202-118 Passive System For Detection And Identification Of Uavs Using Multispectral/hyperspectral Imaging Technologies$240K
Dec 2020Federal contractDefense · Purchase Of Hdr SOC-100, Associated Equipment, And Training.$248K
Sep 2020Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase II Topic A19-035$1.1M
Sep 2020Federal contractNational Gallery o · Upgrade To Surface Optics Camera$50K
Jun 2020Federal contractNASA · ET-100 Optical Surface Measurement Head$25K
Mar 2020Federal contractDefense · High Spectral Resolution Longwave Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging System$150K
Feb 2020Federal contractDefense · SBIR 2 N182-105 Phase 2$750K
Sep 2019Federal contractDefense · Small Business Innovative Research Program Phase I, Under Topic Number A19-035, To Procure Services For The Research And Development Effort Entitled Dual Color High Operating Temperature Photonic Mid-wave Infrared Detector For Threat Warning$162K
Aug 2019Federal contractDefense · Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Entitled Microlens Hyperspectral Imager For Standoff Chemical Detection.$1.0M
Jul 2019Federal contractDefense · SBIR II, Process Modeling Framework For Linear Friction Weld$750K
Mar 2019Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf O181-002-0005$150K
Mar 2019Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Miniature Video Camera for Turbine Engine Inspection$686K
Oct 2018Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Internal Antireflection Coatings for Aerodynamic Missile Domes$125K
Oct 2018Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf; SBIR Phase 1 Award To Surface Optics Corp.$225K
Sep 2018Federal contractNASA · This Is For Purchase Of A Surface Optics SOC-410 Spectral Reflectometer Gun$28K
Aug 2018Federal contractDefense · Small Business Innovative Research Phase II: Dual Band Focal Plane Array$750K
Aug 2018Federal contractDefense · Efficient Evaluation Of Fiber Coatings$150K
Aug 2018Federal contractDefense · Small Business Innovation Research Phase I Scientific And Tech Report$50K
Jul 2018Federal contractNASA · 410-SOLAR Visible/nir Portable Reflectometer$28K
Jul 2018Federal contractDefense · Duochrome Repair Service$9K
May 2018Federal contractDefense · Brdf Measurement Services$59K
Dec 2017Federal contractDefense · Phase I SBIR, Entitled "microlens Hyperspectral Imager For Standoff Chemical Detection."; 6 Month Base Period.$150K
Sep 2017Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf SOC410 Series Command Module (cm)$36K
Sep 2017Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 1 Effort.$98K
Aug 2017Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf SBIR 1--ADVANCED Bio-inspired Imaging System With Multiple Optical Sensing Modes$150K
Aug 2017Federal contractDefense · Development Of Textiles To Provide Multi-spectral Camouflage Igf::ot::igf$100K
Aug 2017Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf SBIR Phase I - Surface Optics Corp.$100K
Aug 2017Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf SBIR Phase I Dual Band Focal Plane Array$150K
Jul 2017Federal contractDefense · Duochrome Radiometric Imaging System III$14K
Jun 2017Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Reflectometer Maintenance And Calibration$3K
Jan 2017Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Operational Support And Services During Testing At China Lake, Ca$16K
Nov 2016Federal contractDefense · Igf::cl,ct::igf "surface Optics Corp." SBIR Ph II$1.5M
Sep 2016Federal contractNASA · ET100 Portable Emissometer, And Remote Control Unit$42K
Sep 2016Federal contractDefense · Igf::cl::igf Repair/calibration For The Surface Optics$15K
Aug 2016Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Subscription To SOC-100 Annual Support Plan$16K
Aug 2016Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf SOC-100 Instrument Maintenance$30K
Jul 2016Federal contractNASA · Infrared (IR) Reflectometer Emissometer$35K
Jul 2016Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Marvin Imagers And Ancillary Parts.$3.9M
Jun 2016Federal contractNASA · Emissometer To Measure Material Emissivity Values$35K
Jun 2016Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf SOC-200 Bdr Field Service$13K
May 2016Federal contractNASA · Emissivity Meter/reflectometer$36K
Mar 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase II · Development of Tool to Assess the Impact of Off-shade/Specification Samples on Visual and Signature Performance Requirements$1.0M
Jan 2016Federal grantDefense · Phase II · MWIR Seeker-Sensor for Strap Down Weapon/SUAS applications$1.5M
Sep 2015Federal contractDefense · Support Plan$16K
Sep 2015Federal contractNational Gallery o · Igf::ct::igf Software And Hardware Upgrade To Vnir Hyperspectral Camera$45K
Jul 2015Federal contractDefense · Igf::cl,ct::igf SBIR Phase I: Enhanced Targeting Sensor Technology$201K
Jul 2015Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf SBIR Swir Full Video Spectral Imager$4.8M
Jun 2015Federal contractDefense · Solar Reflectometer$26K
Apr 2015Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf SOC-400T Yearly Service$6K
Apr 2015Federal contractDefense · Base Award$30K
Sep 2014Federal contractDefense · Reflectometer$49K
Aug 2014Federal contractDefense · Research And Development SBIR Phase I$150K
Aug 2014Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Hyperspectral Swir Imager Phase III SBIR$6.4M
Jul 2014Federal contractDefense · Multispectral Imaging System$150K
Jul 2014Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf SBIR I Mwir Seeker Sensor For Strap Down Weapon/suas$150K
Dec 2013Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Develop A Preliminary Design For The Proposed Algorithms And Electronics Architecture Or Other Bc Component. Modeling, Simulation, And Analysis (ms&a) Of The Design Must Be Presented To Demonstrate The Offeror Understands The Physical Principles, Performance Potential, Scaling Laws, Etc. Ms&a Results Must Clearly Demonstrate How Near-term Goals Will Be Met, At A Minimum. Proof Of Concept Hardware Development And Test Is Desirable. Proof Of Concept Demonstration May Be Subscale Or Sp$125K
Oct 2013Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Phase III SBIR For Bino-aided Target System$1.1M
Jul 2013Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Hyperspectral Swir Imager Phase III SBIR$651K
Sep 2012Federal contractDefense · Panchromatic Infrared Lens Assy$39K
Sep 2012Federal contractDefense · Mwir Hsi High Radiance Configuration$400K
Sep 2012Federal contractDefense · Two Band Imaging System$275K
Aug 2012Federal contractDefense · Yearly Service Visit For Government-owned Soc 100 Hemispherical Directional Reflectometer$10K
Jul 2012Federal contractDefense · Phase II.5 Under SBIR Topic N05-071$750K
Jul 2012Federal contractDefense · Basictopic N103-217$750K
May 2012Federal contractDefense · Hemispherical Reflectometer$169K
Apr 2012Federal contractCommerce · Usb Hyperspectral Imaging Device$25K
Apr 2012Federal contractDefense · Evaluation For Repair Duochrome Two Band$5K
Mar 2012Federal contractDefense · Reflectance$5K
Jan 2012Federal contractDefense · SBIR3 Topic N05-071 Hyperspectral Imaging Digital Camera$34K
Sep 2011Federal contractCommerce · Hyperspectral Camera$25K
Sep 2011Federal contractDefense · Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging Camera$426K
Aug 2011Federal contractDefense · Soc 410-SOLAR(W/CM Handheld Reflectomer)$25K
Jul 2011Federal contractDefense · Si Beamsplitter$62K
Jun 2011Federal contractDefense · Video Imaging System$87K
Jun 2011Federal contractDefense · Optical Properties Database$6K
Jun 2011Federal contractNASA · The Development Of Multi-meter Diameter Radiofrequency (RF) Antennas For NASA And DOD Will Have A Significant Impact Of Future Space Programs. Polymer Membrane Technologies Are Well Suited For Large Area Deployable Space Antennas By Significantly Reducing The Mass And Volume Of The Launch Vehicle. Low Cte Polymer Piezoelectric Membrane Technology Is Now At A Maturity Level To Enable The Development Of High Performance Large Area Electrically Formal Membrane Reflectors. Advanced Coating Technolog$580K
Feb 2011Federal contractDefense · Repair And Maintenance Services On$18K
Jan 2011Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase I Proposal N103-217-0109$150K
Jan 2011Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase I$100K
Dec 2010Federal contractDefense · Hardware Maintenance$15K
Oct 2010Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase II$730K
Sep 2010Federal contractDefense · Reflectometer, Hand Held.$48K
Sep 2010Federal contractDefense · Swir Camera$181K
Sep 2010Federal contractSmithsonian Instit · Visible Hyperspectral Camera Acquisition$21K
Sep 2010Federal contractDefense · Usb Visible Hyperspectral Camera$25K
Sep 2010Federal contractDefense · Base Period$595K
May 2010Federal contractDefense · This Is A SBIR Phase I Effort And A SBIR Phase I Option Will Be Incorporated Into The Resulting Contract. Surface Optics Responded To The SBIR Phase I, Topic No. A10-024 With Proposal Number A101-024-0352, Entitled "real-time Vis-swir Multispectral Sensor For Day/night Operations". The Proposal Aims To Design And Simulate A New Snapshot Hyperspectral Imager Capable Of Day And Night Operation$70K
May 2010Federal contractNASA · SOC-400T Yearly Service - Product #400T-1002$5K
Apr 2010Federal contractNASA · Hand-held Directional Hemispherical Reflectance (dhr) Reflectometer$48K
Mar 2010Federal contractNASA · Silver Coatings For Optics Greater Than 2-METERS In Diameter Are Sought By NASA For Future Space Telescope Systems. In The Phase I Research, Surface Optics Corporation (soc) Investigated Several New Coating Systems For Protecting Silver. The New Coating Designs Are Derivations Based On A Patented Coating Design Created At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (llnl). The New Designs Improve The Coating's Reflectance Performance, Particularly In The Uv Region, While Maintaining Stability In Humi$597K
Feb 2010Federal contractDefense · Service Contract$5K
Jan 2010Federal contractNASA · Development Of Multi-meter Diameter Radiofrequency (RF) Antennas Is An Area Of Intense Research For NASA And DOD Organizations. Polymer Membrane Technologies Offer The Greatest Promise Of Meeting Future Large Antenna Requirements, While Significantly Reducing System Mass And Launch Volume. Recent Advances In Polymer Membrane Materials Must Be Matched By Advances In The Coatings Needed To Provide The Required RF And Thermal Performance In A Space Environment. The Proposed Research Addresses The R$100K
Dec 2009Federal contractNASA · Yearly Service Agreement For Portable Reflectometer$5K
Oct 2009Federal contractDefense · Research And Development Effort$120K
Sep 2009Federal contractDefense · Research And Development In The Physical, Engineering, And Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)$2.1M
Sep 2009Federal contractNational Gallery o · Shipping$34K
Aug 2009Federal contractDefense · ET10 Reflectometer$35K
Aug 2009Federal contractDefense · Reflectometer Measures Directional Hemispherical$89K
May 2009Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase II$750K
May 2009Federal contractDefense · Disk Drive$4K
Apr 2009Federal contractDefense · Hand Held Reflectometer Measures$48K
Apr 2009Federal contractDefense · Wm-mc Reflectometer Maintenance$15K
Feb 2009Federal contractNASA · Very Large Solar Rejection Filter For Laser Communication Surface Optics Corporation (soc) Will Develop A Band Pass Filter Comprised Of A Visible Dielectric Mirror And An Induced Transmission Filter, Applied To Two Sides Of A Cast Polyimide Membrane. The Mirror/filter Combination Will Block 95% Of The Incident Solar Radiation, While Allowing A Narrow Pass-band For Laser Communication. The Combination Of A Visible Dielectric Mirror Constructed On One Side Of A Membrane And A Band-pass Filter On $743K
Jan 2009Federal contractNASA · High Reflectivity, Broad-band Silver Coating Future Space Telescopes Such As The Super Nova Acceleration Probe (snap) Require Exceptionally Reflective Coatings Applied To Mirrors Several Meters In Diameter. In 2007, Surface Optics Corporation (soc) Applied A Protected Silver Coating To The Kepler Space Telescope's 1.4-M Primary Mirror. Although Soc's Coating Design Met The Reflectance Requirements For Kepler, The Protective Layers Absorb Too Much Energy In The Uv And Visible Spectral Regions To$100K
Jan 2009Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase II Cost Contract - Hyperspectral Sensor, Surface Optics Corp, San Diego, Ca. $730K.$730K
Nov 2008Federal contractEnvironmental Prot · Infrared Imaging System$120K
Sep 2008Federal contractDefense · Visual Hyperspectral Imaging Camera$56K
Sep 2008Federal contractDefense · High-resolution Swir-mwir$456K
Sep 2008Federal contractDefense · Phase II, Topic N07-051, Research And Development$750K
Aug 2008Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase II Fast Track$1.5M
Jul 2008Federal contractDefense · Fabricate, Connect, Certify Vdi Oberbias Cable$1K
Jul 2008Federal contractDefense · SOC-600 Hand-held Imaging Reflectometer$98K
Jul 2008Federal contractNational Gallery o · For Dcl$155K
Jun 2008Federal contractDefense · Calibration And Repair Of The SOC-400T$4K
Apr 2008Federal contractDefense · One Year Extended Warranty$15K
Apr 2008Federal contractDefense · Basic Effort (SBIR Phase II)$300K
Apr 2008Federal contractNASA · Windows With Anti-reflection Coating$7K
Jan 2008Federal contractNASA · Very Large Solar Rejection Filter For Laser Communication$98K
Dec 2007Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase I.$69K
Dec 2007Federal contractDefense · 2 Quarterly Reports$120K
Dec 2007Federal contractDefense · F073-057-1245 Innovative High Speed$100K
Nov 2007Federal contractDefense · Install Plane Array$109K
Jul 2007Federal contractDefense · SBIR 2 - Miniature Camera$1.2M
Jun 2007Federal contractDefense · SBIR Ph I$100K
May 2007Federal contractDefense · Basic Effort - Phase II SBIR$999K
Apr 2007Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase I Topic N07-051$150K
Apr 2007Federal contractDefense · Labor - Lwir Threat Agent & Hypersensor$554K
Apr 2006Federal contractDefense · 200607!008614!5700!FA8650!DET 1 Afrl/pk !FA865006C1013 !a!n! !y! ! !20060421!20080620!064390719!064390719!064390719!N!SURFACE Optics Corporation !11555 Rancho Bernardo Rd !san Diego !CA!92127!66000!073!06!SAN Diego !san Diego !CALIFORNIA!+000000200000!N!N!000000738114!AC63!RDTE/ELECTRONICS & Communication Eq-adv Tech Dev !A7 !electronics And Communication Equip !000 !not Discernable !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !999$738K
Sep 2005Federal contractDefense · 200512!004626!1700!N00014!OFFICE Of Naval Research !N0001405C0343 !a!n! !n! ! !20050921!20070214!064390719!064390719!064390719!N!SURFACE Optics Corporation !11555 Rancho Bernardo Rd !san Diego !CA!92127!66000!073!06!SAN Diego !san Diego !CALIFORNIA!+000000333333!N!N!000000000000!AD95!RDTE/OTHER Defense-eng/manuf Develop !S1 !services !000 !* !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !202$498K
Sep 2004Federal contractDefense · 200412!002278!1700!E612A !office Of Naval Research, HEADQU!N0001404C0350 !a!n! !n! ! !20040921!20060914!064390719!064390719!064390719!N!SURFACE Optics Corporation !11555 Rancho Bernardo Road!san Diego !CA!92127!66000!073!06!SAN Diego !san Diego !CALIFORNIA!+000000173888!N!N!000000000000!AD95!RDTE/OTHER Defense-eng/manuf Develop !S1 !services !000 !* !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !999$656K
Aug 2004Federal contractDefense · 200411!000758!5700!GS03 !det 8, Afrl/pk (supports De) !FA945104C0148 !a!n! !y! ! !20040823!20061027!064390719!064390719!064390719!N!SURFACE Optics Corporation !11555 Rancho Bernardo Road!san Diego !CA!92127!66000!073!06!SAN Diego !san Diego !CALIFORNIA!+000000375000!N!N!000000737186!AC51!RDTE/WEAPONS-BASIC Research !A5 !weapons !000 !* !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !999$737K
Aug 2004Federal contractDefense$56K
Nov 2003Federal contractDefense · 200402!000102!2100!W15QKN!TACOM - Picatinny !W15QKN04C1019 !a!n! !n! ! !20031121!20051030!064390719!064390719!064390719!N!SURFACE Optics Corporation !11555 Rancho Bernardo Road!san Diego !CA!92127!66000!073!06!SAN Diego !san Diego !CALIFORNIA!+000000365297!N!N!000000000000!AD91!RDTE/OTHER Defense-basic Research !C9E!ALL Other Supplies And Equipment !000 !* !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !999$1.4M

Federal awards are summed by year (149 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 164 peers

Line = median

Defense · Device

Federal grants#74 · top 45%

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

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ILLUMINATION WORKS, LLCSimilar federal contract value in Defense · $48.6M 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.