Lattice Materials sees increased demand for U.S. custom-grown germanium in response to global trade tensions and need for supply chain security.

The aerospace industry is opening up to more players, and the skies closer to earth are becoming the next frontier of opportunity. From satellite constellations delivering global connectivity to next-gen imaging systems that redefine how we see our planet, low Earth orbit (LEO) applications are surging.

Notably in spring 2025, SpaceX deployed 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 and Amazon delivered its first 27 satellites to support its Kuiper broadband internet constellation, and both companies plan to add many more.

As these LEO satellite constellations expand, aerospace engineers face rising demands for optical and infrared components made at a larger scale while still meeting exacting standards for performance, durability and precision.

Lattice Materials (Lattice), part of The Partner Companies (TPC), is one of the few manufacturers producing precision parts from custom-grown and machined silicon and germanium, providing key components used in infrared optics and sensors. These components are critical to satellite payloads, defense applications and thermal imaging systems, enabling precise data capture and signal transmission in space.

Germanium: The Critical Material for Space Optics

As domestic players seek to establish themselves as leaders, they require manufacturing partners with secure supply chains, long term business viability and technical expertise to meet the sophisticated requirements that the growing space applications require.

This starts with access to high-quality materials. Germanium is considered one of the 50 critical minerals for America’s economic development and defense according to the 2022 U.S. Geological Survey.

One of the reasons for this is that germanium has become an essential material in modern aerospace technology. That’s because of a combination of properties that make it ideal for specialized applications, including:

• Exceptional durability: In LEO environments where radiation exposure is significantly higher than on Earth, germanium components maintain their integrity without degrading.
• Superior optical properties: Excels at bending light (high refractive index) and can be further enhanced with specialized coatings for even better performance.
• Temperature stability: Maintains consistent performance through extreme thermal cycles without warping or changing optical properties. This is especially important as LEO satellites experience frequent and drastic temperature cycles during orbit.
• Protective conductivity: As a metalloid (having properties of both metals and non-metals), germanium conducts electricity efficiently while providing protection for sensitive electronic systems against radiation and electromagnetic interference.

These properties make germanium a cornerstone material in the development of aerospace technologies.

The Supply Chain Security Imperative

As supply chain stability becomes a top priority for aerospace programs, domestic sourcing of critical materials like germanium is gaining attention. Trade restrictions and geopolitical dynamics have highlighted the risks of relying on foreign sources for specialty parts, including components for optics.

Even with the recently signed mineral rights deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, there’s an immediate need for a strong U.S. supply of germanium as it could take years to refine natural resources in Ukraine.

Lattice maintains a vertically integrated, U.S. production line that allows for full material traceability, stable lead times and tighter quality control. This in-house capability is especially valuable for customers navigating International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Buy American Act compliance.

By keeping crystal growth, processing and finishing in one location, Lattice can quickly respond to design changes, support prototyping and scale production without introducing variability into the supply chain. This also helps to safeguard technological innovations in the U.S.

Manufacturing at Scale

A departure from traditional aerospace programs that require a low volume of parts, LEO applications like satellite constellations require manufacturing processes that can scale while still maintaining the same precision, exacting requirements and safety standards.

TPC manufacturers are not only seeing demand for manufacturing at scale but also more customers seeking larger physical parts with custom resistivity, unique crystal orientations and specialized optical transmissions.

“We aren’t making off-the-shelf components,” said Travis Wood, president of Lattice. “We custom grow germanium and silicon to meet our customers’ unique needs, which requires specialty equipment and expertise. Lattice brings three decades of experience manufacturing complete optical solutions for mission-critical applications.”

With an agile, customer-first approach, TPC helps customers move from prototype to production at the speed innovation demands. TPC’s U.S.-based manufacturing centers adapt quickly and produce consistently — meeting the high technical specifications that tomorrow’s aerospace systems will rely on.

Supporting the Next Wave of LEO Systems

From Earth observation to telecommunications, scientific research to defense applications, specialized optical components help serve as the eyes and communication channels of the expanding space infrastructure.

With increasing international trade tensions and growing recognition of the strategic importance of space capabilities, domestic manufacturers of advanced optical components play an essential role in securing the supply chain for these critical technologies. Companies with deep expertise and vertically integrated capabilities provide the foundation for continued innovation and expansion in the LEO ecosystem.

By partnering with specialized optical manufacturers like Lattice that bring proven expertise in germanium and other critical materials, the aerospace industry can ensure access to the high-precision components needed to power the next generation of space applications.

For more information and to get in touch with Lattice, visit: www.latticematerials.com.

Learn more about TPC’s work to support aerospace applications:

• Photonics Spectra Webinar: Manufacturing High-Quality Germanium for Infrared Optics (April 2025)
• Design & Development Today: Pushing Aerospace Boundaries: The Role of Advanced Manufacturers (March 2025)
• Electro Optics: Travis Wood, Lattice Materials President: sourcing raw materials for infrared optics (February 2025)
• Aerospace Manufacturing & Design: 2025 Forecast (January 2025)