New Division Supporting Mission-Critical Defense Optics and Upcoming CMMC Level 2 Requirements
North American Coating Laboratories (NACL), a leading U.S.-based provider of precision optical coatings, today announced the official launch of NACL Tactical, a dedicated division focused on delivering rugged, mission-ready optical coatings for defense, military, surveillance, and ruggedized systems.
NACL Tactical was established to meet the growing demand for high-reliability optical coatings engineered for extreme environments and mission-critical applications. The division brings together NACL's decades of coating expertise with a defense-focused operational model designed to support accelerated timelines, complex technical requirements, and high-touch communication.
"NACL Tactical represents a natural evolution of the work we've been doing for years," said Kelley Plats, Business Development Manager. "By formalizing this division, we are reinforcing our commitment to defense partners who require not only exceptional optical performance, but also reliability, responsiveness, and trust."
Rugged Coatings for Demanding Missions
NACL Tactical specializes in advanced optical coatings engineered for durability, performance, and consistency in harsh operational conditions. Core capabilities include:
- Infrared coatings across SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR bands
- Ruggedized anti-reflective (AR) coatings
- Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) protective coatings
- Custom optical filter coatings for sensing and targeting
- Plastic optics coating for lightweight, impact-resistant systems
These capabilities support applications such as thermal imaging, weapon-mounted optics, ISR platforms, UAV/UGV sensor payloads, night vision systems, and ruggedized imaging modules.
Defense-Focused Engineering & Secure Operations
In addition to coating performance, NACL Tactical emphasizes program support aligned with defense industry expectations. The division operates under NACL's ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and is actively advancing toward CMMC Level 2 compliance, strengthening cybersecurity practices for customers handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
This commitment ensures defense partners can rely on both the technical integrity of their optics and the security of the environment supporting their programs.
Built on Experience. Focused on the Mission.
Backed by more than 50 years of optical coating expertise, NACL Tactical provides defense customers with direct access to engineering support, streamlined communication, and a white-glove approach to project execution.
The division launches under the guiding principle: Rugged by Design. Precise by Nature.
Learn More
To learn more about NACL Tactical and its defense-focused optical coating capabilities, visit: www.nacl.com/tactical.
About North American Coating Laboratories: North American Coating Laboratories (NACL) is a U.S.-based optical coating partner specializing in high-performance coatings for polymer, infrared and glass optics. Serving commercial, industrial, medical, defense markets, and more, NACL is known for its technical expertise, white-glove service model, and commitment to long-term customer partnerships.