A great achievement by scientists in Sivas, the first infrared lens has been produced.

Sivas Science and Technology University, in partnership with ASELSAN Sivas, has successfully produced infrared lenses for the first time by a university.

Sivas Science and Technology University is making a name for itself with its studies. Turkish scientists working in the Optical Thin Film Design and Coating Center, which started operations in 2020 and reaped its fruits in 2024, achieved a significant success. For the first time in Turkey, an infrared lens was produced by a university in collaboration with ASELSAN Sivas at this center, where work is carried out with very fine precision. The first batch of 20 lenses produced has been delivered to ASELSAN Sivas. The produced lenses will be used in advanced technology imaging.

“Currently, our lenses are installed inside binoculars”
Dr. Instructor Yusuf Doğan, the Coordinator of the Optical Thin Film Design and Coating Center, stated that the produced lenses have been placed inside binoculars, saying, “We started working on this project in 2020. We activated this center in 2024. After it became operational, we were in constant contact and collaboration with defense industry companies. ASELSAN has its own projects regarding lens production. The main configuration of our center here is focused on the thermal region. We activated it by producing our first batch of lenses. The productions were successfully carried out and passed through quality control units one by one. Currently, our lenses are placed inside binoculars. These lenses will be used, especially in thermal imaging systems in the defense industry. There are regions we call near, medium, far, and infrared, which are 3, 5, 8, and 12 respectively. Some are for thermal imaging, while others are systems placed in guided systems known as laser tracking systems, adjusted for high temperatures. Depending on which system they are produced for, we can manufacture and perform the coating accordingly.”

“Some of the lenses can also be integrated into different systems”
Doğan mentioned that some of the lenses can be integrated into different systems, stating, “Currently, the problem we experienced with Canada regarding this system has been heard. Therefore, ASELSAN developed this internally. They are trying to produce all the optics used here within their own structure. Some of the lenses used here can also be integrated into different systems. We are integrating local optics into the domestic products produced by ASELSAN. Our aim here is to support our companies by developing new coating recipes for the products they cannot produce. This is our main goal. We are trying to provide our companies with all the support we can in this regard.”