Scalable High Strength Spinel Reconnaissance Window Manufacturing

The Navy has critical and enabling needs for large, strong transparent windows for electro-optical sensor applications on surface vessels, subsurface vessels and airborne systems that are currently beyond the state-of-the art. The hardness, erosion resistance, and broadband transparency of transparent spinel coupled with large size manufacturing capability makes it a leading candidate albeit its relatively modest strength. A systematic approach for significant strength enhancement of spinel windows with a high probability of success is described in depth. Tradeoffs between the proposed methods include magnitude of strength enhancement, optical properties, ease of fabrication and cost. A clear path to rapid scalability and production of 28" x 30" x 0.6" spinel windows and larger with minimal investment is outlined.