PhotonFirst and Curtiss-Wright collaborate
The collaboration aims to accelerate adoption of integrated photonics-based fibre optic sensing technologies in aerospace flight test instrumentation applications.
PhotonFirst and Curtiss-Wright have announced a collaboration to advance the deployment of fibre optic sensing technology within aerospace flight test instrumentation (FTI) systems.
The partnership brings together PhotonFirst’s integrated photonics-based Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) interrogator technology and Curtiss-Wright’s expertise in aerospace and defence flight test instrumentation.
Under the agreement, PhotonFirst’s sensing products will be adapted and optimised for integration into Curtiss-Wright’s FTI platforms and architectures.
Fibre optic sensing technologies are attracting increasing interest across the aerospace sector due to their ability to deliver highly accurate real-time measurements while reducing system weight and complexity.
Compared with conventional electrical sensors, FBG-based solutions offer immunity to electromagnetic interference, high multiplexing capability, and the ability to monitor parameters such as strain, temperature, vibration, and structural health in demanding operating environments.
The companies believe the technology can support growing industry requirements for structural health monitoring, predictive maintenance, and improved operational efficiency across both commercial and defence aerospace platforms.
“Fibre optic sensing is increasingly recognised as a key enabling technology for next-generation aerospace platforms with a growing need for high-quality data,” said Leendert-Jan Nijstad, CEO of PhotonFirst.
“By combining our integrated photonics-based sensing technology with Curtiss-Wright’s deep expertise in flight test instrumentation, we believe we can significantly accelerate adoption of fibre optic sensing within the aerospace market.”
Aidan Darmody, Site Lead at Curtiss-Wright Defence Solutions, said aircraft manufacturers and defence customers are seeking technologies that can reduce weight, improve reliability, and increase the amount of actionable data available during testing and operation.
He added that the company sees strong potential for FBG technology to become an important element of future flight test instrumentation architectures.
The collaboration reflects the growing role of integrated photonics in sensing applications, as aerospace manufacturers increasingly explore optical technologies to enhance data acquisition and monitoring capabilities in next-generation aircraft and defence systems.
