Miles Jamison 
- DARPA’s PICASSO program targets optical signal degradation in complex processing systems
- Raytheon will apply photonics process development and radio frequency design expertise
- Synopsys will contribute design and simulation tools to the technology development effort
Raytheon has received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop photonic integrated circuit technology that processes signals using light instead of electricity. The RTX business said Tuesday its advanced technology team will design and test the technology under the first phase of DARPA’s Photonic Integrated Circuit Architectures for Scalable System Objectives, or PICASSO, program.
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The effort seeks to eliminate the need for existing photonic circuits to convert optical signals into electrical signals for processing. Raytheon said removing this step would help maintain signal strength and integrity as circuits become smaller and more complex.
What Is the PICASSO Program?
DARPA issued a solicitation for PICASSO in January to shift photonics development from individual components toward circuit- and system-level design, Washington Technology reported. According to the agency, optical signals degrade and accumulate noise as they travel through long processing chains. DARPA added that signal fidelity is also sensitive to scattering, back-reflections and other spurious wave interactions that become unmanageable in large systems.
The program has two 18-month phases, with the first focused on circuit-level strategies to preserve optical signal integrity. The second phase will generalize those approaches to achieve distinct circuit functionality. DARPA will make a down-select between the two phases.
How Could All-Optical Processing Support Military Operations?
By keeping signal processing in the optical domain, the technology could enable earlier threat detection, faster responses and better situational awareness in contested environments.
Colin Whelan, president of Raytheon’s advanced technology business, said the program represents a shift in how processing can be performed. He added that moving critical processing entirely into the optical domain could enable faster response times for a range of applications.
What Expertise Will Raytheon Bring to the PICASSO Program?
Raytheon will draw on its experience in photonics process development and radio frequency design for the DARPA project. The company also cited its fielded military systems as part of the technical experience it will apply to the effort.
Commercial industry partner Synopsys will provide design and simulation tools to support the development work.
What Other DARPA Work Is Raytheon Pursuing?
The advanced technology team is also working on other DARPA efforts. In February, DARPA selected the team to develop a sensing and targeting system to protect commercial shipping and naval logistics vessels under the Pulling Guard program. The system will deploy electro-optical and infrared sensors via a tethered drone connected to a semi-autonomous unmanned craft towed by the vessels. In a second phase, Raytheon will integrate operational launchers and effectors to support live operations.
In May, the team received a phase two award to advance composable solid rocket motor technology under the Burn n’ Go program. Raytheon is the prime on the contract and is partnering with Northrop Grumman‘s Allegany Ballistic Laboratory and Luna Innovations.
Raytheon also booked a three-year, two-phase contract in October 2024 for ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor, or UWBGS, development. The UWBGS is envisioned to boost the capability and range of radar and communication systems, particularly in areas like cooperative sensing, directed energy, electronic warfare and high-speed weapon systems like hypersonics.
