Raytheon Wins DARPA Photonic Circuit Contract
Raytheon's Advanced Technology team will design and demonstrate photonic circuits under DARPA's PICASSO program.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Semiconductors
Raytheon, an RTX business, won a DARPA phase one contract to develop photonic circuits that process signals entirely with light. The contract value was not disclosed, and Raytheon did not disclose a delivery schedule.
Why it matters
Keeping signal processing in the optical domain preserves signal strength and quality as circuits shrink and grow more complex, according to Raytheon. DARPA launched the PICASSO program to move photonics research from individual components to complete circuits and systems.
Each PICASSO phase runs 18 months, with a maximum value of $35 million per planned DARPA agreement. Raytheon's contract value and delivery timeline were not disclosed, and DARPA has not yet down-selected between phases.
The players
Raytheon
Raytheon is an RTX business that designs advanced defense and aerospace technologies, and its Advanced Technology team is leading the photonic circuit work.
DARPA
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is the U.S. Department of Defense research arm that launched the PICASSO program to advance photonic integrated circuits.
Synopsys
Synopsys is a major electronic design automation company that will supply design and simulation tools for the Raytheon work.
The details
Current photonic designs convert light back into electricity at key points to clean up and process signals. Raytheon's Advanced Technology team will design and demonstrate the circuits, with Synopsys providing design and simulation tools.
Timeline
Early 2026: DARPA launched the PICASSO program.
November 3, 2026: Raytheon announced the phase one contract win.
The Tech Race
DARPA's PICASSO program, launched early this year, is moving federal photonics research from individual components toward complete integrated circuits. Raytheon's phase one award places it among the first contractors pursuing that shift, which targets computing, analog signal processing, and sensing.
Photonic circuits could help military operators detect threats sooner and keep better situational awareness in contested environments. The work is still at the research stage, so no near-term consumer product changes are described.
The takeaway
DARPA's PICASSO program signals that photonic computing is moving from lab components toward full systems, and the phase-by-phase down-select will show which approaches advance. Readers following defense technology should watch for the government-specific solicitation that follows.
What happens next
DARPA will down-select between the two 18-month PICASSO phases, and a separate solicitation for government-specific circuit designs will follow.
Further reading
Explore more Semiconductors coverage for context on photonic chip development.
