Some great stories begin with a childhood dream. But others—just as great—start with a moment when unique expertise, industry need, and technological advancement converge.  

In 2001, the RSL story (then known as RSL Fiber Systems) began as a joint venture with Skyler Technologies and Wire-Pro, Inc. to solve lighting and illumination issues they observed in U.S. Navy ships. While naval technology was evolving, so too were its equipment considerations alongside their ancient foes: seawater and sun. Together with our partners, RSL set out to address military lighting complexities like maintenance, safety, radar cross section (RCS), EMI/RFI, corrosion and total ownership costs.

After years of prototypes and collaboration with stakeholders like the Office of Naval Research through the Navy Manufacturing Technology Program (MANTECH), RSL qualified its first major lighting system. The system featured remote source lighting technology that used fiber optic cables to carry light from a source to an emission point, maximizing safety, adaptability, and ease of use. Today, we are proud to say the U.S. Navy has used this same remote source technology for illumination, navigation and signaling light systems since 2004.

Over the decades, RSL’s marine lighting solutions have been adapted for the U.S. Navy’s renowned LPD 17 class, its DGG 1000 stealth destroyer class, and the Italian FREMM multi-mission frigate class. We are known for agile designs that anticipate technological needs of the world’s newest ships and can adapt to retrofit older ships for continued sea readiness.

Once you shine light on a path, you see not only what’s next to you but what lies farther ahead. The more your eyes adjust, the farther you can see.