Covert aircraft lighting demands an infrared source that stays invisible to the unaided eye while reading bright and uniform under night vision goggles (NVGs). Opto Diode designs and manufactures the OD-669, a high-power GaAlAs (AlGaAs) IR LED illuminator built from nine chips in series in a rugged, electrically-isolated, gold-plated case — purpose-built for covert formation, anti-collision, and identification lighting on rotary- and fixed-wing platforms. It is US-designed and manufactured by Opto Diode, an ITW company.
Need a quote or datasheet review? Contact Opto Diode to discuss your covert lighting program, request samples, or confirm specifications for your requirements.
Why Opto Diode for covert aircraft lighting
Most catalog IR LEDs are small surface-mount or TO-can emitters tuned for sensing or short-range illumination. Covert aircraft lighting is a different problem: you need watt-class optical output, thermal headroom for continuous duty, a wide and uniform emission pattern, and a near-infrared wavelength that reads under goggles while staying dark to the naked eye. The OD-669 is engineered for exactly this role.
- High optical output in a single device — 390 mW minimum / 500 mW typical at 300 mA, and up to 6500 mW under pulsed drive (5 A) — reducing emitter, driver, and thermal-path count in a lamp assembly.
- Very wide 120° half-intensity beam angle for broad, even coverage suited to formation and anti-collision roles.
- 880 nm near-infrared emission, within the response band of image-intensification NVGs while remaining invisible to the unaided eye.
- Electrically-isolated, gold-plated metal case with mounting tabs for direct heatsink attach and continuous-duty thermal management (6 W dissipation, derated above 25°C).
- US design and manufacturing by Opto Diode, an ITW company — relevant for ITAR-controlled and US-content sourcing requirements.
Explore related mission profiles under aerospace and defense applications.
OD-669 device characteristics
The following are summarized from the published OD-669 datasheet for buyer orientation. Always validate against the controlling datasheet for your revision — view the OD-669 datasheet (PDF).
| Parameter | OD-669 |
|---|---|
| Peak emission wavelength | 880 nm |
| Construction | Nine GaAlAs chips connected in series |
| Total power output | 390 mW min / 500 mW typ @ IF=300 mA; up to 6500 mW pulsed @ IF=5 A |
| Spectral bandwidth (at 50%) | 80 nm |
| Half-intensity beam angle | 120° |
| Forward voltage | 13.5 V typ / 15 V max @ 300 mA |
| Continuous forward current (max) | 400 mA |
| Peak pulse current (10 µs, 400 Hz) | 5 A |
| Power dissipation (max) | 6 W (derate above 25°C) |
| Operating / storage temperature | −55°C to +100°C |
| Max junction temperature | 100°C |
| Package | Electrically-isolated, gold-plated metal case with mounting tabs |
NVIS compatibility and MIL-STD-3009 context
MIL-STD-3009 (which superseded MIL-L-85762A) defines lighting compatibility for aircraft equipped with night vision imaging systems. It specifies NVIS radiance limits for the visible lighting pilots see directly and defines requirements for covert (IR) modes — for example, formation lighting with a pilot-selectable IR-only mode. Two points matter for component selection:
- NVIS compatibility is a system-level qualification. Compliance is demonstrated at the lamp/aircraft level through spectral-radiance and photometric testing — not on a bare LED. Opto Diode supplies the IR emitter as a building block; the integrator owns the optical, mechanical, and electrical design that achieves compliance.
- Wavelength and pattern drive the covert outcome. An 880 nm GaAlAs emitter with a wide, uniform beam gives lighting designers a defensible starting point for the covert IR channel, leaving the visible NVIS channels to be addressed separately per the standard.
Opto Diode does not assert that any single component is “MIL-STD-3009 certified” in isolation; the OD-669 is offered as a high-output IR illuminator engineered for the covert role within such systems.
Typical covert lighting applications
- Covert formation lighting for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft operating under NVGs.
- Covert anti-collision and position lighting that is dark to the unaided eye.
- IR identification, marking, and recognition lighting.
- Ground-vehicle and UAS covert illumination needing watt-class, wide-angle IR in a thermally robust package.
Why component sourcing matters for defense programs
- US manufacturing and supply-chain provenance. Opto Diode is a US-based, ITW-owned precision photonics manufacturer — important context for ITAR-controlled programs and US-content requirements. Export jurisdiction and licensing are program-specific; confirm classification with Opto Diode and your trade-compliance team.
- Low competition, defensible niche. Watt-class GaAlAs IR illuminators purpose-built for covert aircraft lighting in a heatsink-ready, isolated package are a specialized category — far fewer substitutes than commodity SMD IR LEDs.
- Direct manufacturer engagement. You work with the people who make the device, including support on thermal design, drive conditions, and lifetime considerations.
Frequently asked questions
What wavelength does the OD-669 covert IR illuminator emit?
The OD-669 emits at a peak wavelength of 880 nm with an 80 nm spectral bandwidth. This near-infrared output falls within the response band of image-intensification night vision goggles while remaining invisible to the unaided eye.
Is the OD-669 MIL-STD-3009 compliant?
MIL-STD-3009 compliance is qualified at the lamp and aircraft level, not on an individual LED. The OD-669 is engineered as a high-output IR illuminator suited to the covert (IR) channel of NVIS-compatible lighting systems; the integrator is responsible for the design and testing that demonstrate standard compliance.
How much optical output can a single device deliver?
The OD-669 delivers 390 mW minimum / 500 mW typical at 300 mA continuous, and up to 6500 mW under pulsed drive at 5 A. Watt-class output from one device reduces emitter count and simplifies the lamp assembly.
What package does it use, and how is it cooled?
The OD-669 ships in an electrically-isolated, gold-plated metal case with mounting tabs designed for direct heatsink attach, supporting up to 6 W power dissipation (derated above 25°C) for sustained, high-output covert lighting.
Can Opto Diode support ITAR-controlled or US-content programs?
Opto Diode is a US-based, ITW-owned manufacturer. Export jurisdiction and licensing are determined per item and per program, so contact us to review classification, US-content, and supply-chain documentation for your application.
Request a quote or datasheet review
Specifying a covert IR illuminator for an NVIS or MIL-STD-3009 lighting program? Opto Diode can help you match output, wavelength, and thermal design to your platform, and discuss volumes, lead times, and compliance documentation.
Contact Opto Diode for a quote, samples, or engineering support →
US-designed and manufactured by Opto Diode, an ITW company. ITAR/export classification is program-specific — confirm with our team.
Want the full product line in one document? Download the Opto Diode product catalog.