<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                               PROMISSORY NOTE AND
                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

1.   Note. For value received, Irvine Sensors Corp. unconditionally promises to
pay to the order of _______________, ("holder") the principal sum of Fifty
Thousand dollars and no/00 ($50,000.00) on or before May 30, 2002. This Note is
a non-interest bearing note.

2.   Security Interest. To secure payment of this Note, and of any other
liability of Irvine Sensors Corp. to the holder hereof, due or to become due, or
that may be hereafter contracted or existing regardless of how acquired by the
holder, Irvine Sensors Corp. agrees to grant a security interest in the
collateral set forth in Paragraph 4 herein.

3.   Attachment and Obligation Secured. The security interest hereby created
shall attach immediately on execution of and shall secure the payment, according
to the terms of this Note.

4.   Description of Collateral. The Collateral covered by this Agreement and in
which a security interest is hereby granted and transferred to the holder is as
follows:

                  Receipts due Irvine Sensors Corp. pursuant to
                   U.S. Army CECOM Contract #DAAB07-02-C-P608.

5.   Release of Security Interest. Upon full payment of principal due on this
     Note, the holder releases any security interest it may have in the
     Collateral.

6.   Governing Law. This Note shall be construed under the Laws of the State of
     California, including the Uniform Commercial Code as in force in the State
     of California.


Date:    March 16, 2002

IRVINE SENSORS CORPORATION




____________________________
John J. Stuart
Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>

THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS
WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED
OR EXERCISED UNLESS AND UNTIL SUCH WARRANT AND/OR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IS
REGISTERED UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY
IS OBTAINED TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. THIS WARRANT
AND THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT ARE
SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN SECTIONS 4 AND 10 OF THIS
WARRANT.

Warrant No. PN0202                               Number of Shares: 25,000

Date of Issuance:  March 16, 2002


                           IRVINE SENSORS CORPORATION
                          Common Stock Purchase Warrant
                          (Void after Eighteen Months)

         Irvine Sensors Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for
value received, hereby certifies that _______________ or his registered assigns
(the "Registered Holder"), is entitled, subject to the terms and conditions set
forth below, to purchase from the Company, at any time or from time to time
commencing on or after nine months from the date of issuance (the "Original
Issuance Date") and on or before 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time) on September 16, 2003
(the "Termination Date") shares of Common Stock of the Company, at a purchase
price of $1.20 per share. The shares purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant,
and the purchase price per share, each as adjusted from time to time pursuant to
the provisions of this Warrant, are hereinafter referred to as the "Warrant
Shares" and the "Purchase Price," respectively.

1.  Exercise.

         (a) This Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder, in whole or
in part, by surrendering this Warrant, with the purchase form appended hereto as
Exhibit I duly executed by the Registered Holder or by the Registered Holder's
duly authorized attorney, at the principal office of the Company, or at such
other office or agency as the Company may designate, accompanied by payment in
full, in lawful money of the United States, of the Purchase Price payable in
respect of the number of Warrant Shares purchased upon such exercise.

         (b) Each exercise of this Warrant shall be deemed to have been effected
immediately prior to the close of business on the day on which this Warrant
shall have been surrendered to the Company as provided in subsection 1(a) above
accompanied by payment in full of the Purchase Price (the "Exercise Date"). At
such time, the person or persons in whose name or names any certificates for
Warrant Shares shall be issuable upon such exercise as provided in subsection
1(c) below shall be deemed to have become the holder or holders of record of the
Warrant Shares represented by such certificates.

<PAGE>

         (c) As soon as practicable after the exercise of this Warrant in full
or in part, and in any event within 5 business days thereafter, the Company, at
its expense, will cause to be issued in the name of, and delivered to, the
Registered Holder, or as such Holder (upon payment by such Holder of any
applicable transfer taxes) may direct:

                  (i)  a certificate or certificates for the number of full
         Warrant Shares to which the Registered Holder shall be entitled upon
         such exercise plus, in lieu of any fractional share to which the
         Registered Holder would otherwise be entitled, cash in an amount
         determined pursuant to Section 3 hereof; and

                  (ii) in case such exercise is in part only, a new warrant or
         warrants (dated the date hereof) of like tenor, calling in the
         aggregate on the face or faces thereof for the number of remaining
         Warrant Shares.

         (d) In the event that the Company's common stock has traded on the
Nasdaq SmallCap Market, or comparable exchange, at a price of $2.00 per share or
greater, as adjusted for any events described in Section 2 hereof, for ten
consecutive trading days, the Company, at its sole discretion, may elect to
demand call the exercise of this Warrant; provided however, that such call may
not be made unless and until the Warrant Shares have previously been registered
for resale pursuant to a registration statement declared effective by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

2.  Adjustments.

         (a) Adjustment for Stock Splits and Combinations. If the Company shall
at any time or from time to time after the date on which this Warrant was first
issued (the "Original Issue Date") effect a subdivision of the outstanding
Common Stock, the Purchase Price then in effect immediately before that
subdivision shall be proportionately decreased. If the Company shall at any time
or from time to time after the Original Issue Date combine the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, the Purchase Price then in effect immediately before the
combination shall be proportionately increased. Any adjustment under this
paragraph shall become effective at the close of business on the date the
subdivision or combination becomes effective.

         (b) Adjustment for Certain Dividends and Distributions. In the event
the Company at any time, or from time to time after the Original Issue Date
shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of
Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable in
additional shares of Common Stock, then and in each such event the Purchase
Price then in effect immediately before such event shall be decreased as of the
time of such issuance or, in the event such a record date shall have been fixed,
as of the close of business on such record date, by multiplying the Purchase
Price then in effect by a fraction:

                  (1)  the numerator of which shall be the total number of
         shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
         time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date, and

                                       2

<PAGE>

                  (2)  the denominator of which shall be the total number of
         shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
         time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus
         the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such
         dividend or distribution;

provided, however, if such record date shall have been fixed and such dividend
is not fully paid or if such distribution is not fully made on the date fixed
therefor, the Purchase Price shall be recomputed accordingly as of the close of
business on such record date and thereafter the Purchase Price shall be adjusted
pursuant to this paragraph as of the time of actual payment of such dividends or
distributions.

         (c) Adjustment in Number of Warrant Shares. When any adjustment is
required to be made in the Purchase Price pursuant to subsections 2(a) or 2(b),
the number of Warrant Shares purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall
be changed to the number determined by dividing (i) an amount equal to the
number of shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to
such adjustment, multiplied by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such adjustment, by (ii) the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment.

         (d) Adjustments for Other Dividends and Distributions. In the event the
Company at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date shall
make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common
Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable in
securities of the Company (other than shares of Common Stock) or in cash or
other property (other than cash out of earnings or earned surplus, determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles), then and in each such
event provision shall be made so that the Registered Holder shall receive upon
exercise hereof, in addition to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
hereunder, the kind and amount of securities of the Company and/or cash and
other property which the Registered Holder would have been entitled to receive
had this Warrant been exercised into Common Stock on the date of such event and
had the Registered Holder thereafter, during the period from the date of such
event to and including the Exercise Date, retained any such securities
receivable, giving application to all adjustments called for during such period
under this Section 2 with respect to the rights of the Registered Holder.

         (e) Adjustment for Mergers or Reorganizations, etc. If there shall
occur any reorganization, recapitalization, consolidation or merger involving
the Company in which the Common Stock is converted into or exchanged for
securities, cash or other property (other than a transaction covered by
subsections 2(a), 2(b) or 2(d)), then, following any such reorganization,
recapitalization, consolidation or merger, the Registered Holder shall receive
upon exercise hereof the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property
which the Registered Holder would have been entitled to receive if, immediately
prior to such reorganization, recapitalization, consolidation or merger, the
Registered Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock subject to this
Warrant. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if (x) there shall occur any
reorganization, recapitalization, consolidation or merger involving the Company
in which the Common Stock is converted into or exchanged for anything other than
solely equity securities, and (y) the common stock of the acquiring or surviving
company is publicly traded, then, as part of any such reorganization,
recapitalization, consolidation or merger, (i) the Registered Holder

                                       3

<PAGE>

shall have the right thereafter to receive upon the exercise hereof such number
of shares of common stock of the acquiring or surviving company as is determined
by multiplying (A) the number of shares of Common Stock then subject to this
Warrant by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Fair Market Value per
share of Common Stock as of the effective date of such transaction, and the
denominator of which is the fair market value per share of common stock of the
acquiring or surviving company as of the effective date of such transaction, as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, and (ii) the
exercise price per share of common stock of the acquiring or surviving company
shall be the Purchase Price divided by the fraction referred to in clause (B)
above. In any such case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company) shall be made in the application of the
provisions set forth herein with respect to the rights and interests thereafter
of the Registered Holder, to the end that the provisions set forth in this
Section 2 (including provisions with respect to changes in and other adjustments
of the Purchase Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably
may be, in relation to any securities, cash or other property thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant.

         The Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock shall be determined as
follows:

             (i)  If the Common Stock is listed on a national securities
exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or another nationally recognized trading
system (including, without limitation, the OTC Bulletin Board and, if the
average daily trading volume for the preceding 10 days has been at least 100,000
shares, the Pink Sheets) as of the Exercise Date, the Fair Market Value per
share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be the average of the high and low
reported sale prices per share of Common Stock thereon on the trading day
immediately preceding the effective date of the transaction (provided that if no
such price is reported on such day, the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock shall be determined pursuant to clause (ii)).

             (ii) If the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities
exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or another nationally recognized trading
system, the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be
the amount most recently determined by the Board of Directors to represent the
fair market value per share of the Common Stock.

         (f) Certificate as to Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of each
adjustment or readjustment of the Purchase Price pursuant to this Section 2, the
Company at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in
accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to the Registered Holder a
certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment (including the kind
and amount of securities, cash or other property for which this Warrant shall be
exercisable and the Purchase Price) and showing in detail the facts upon which
such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Company shall, upon the written
request at any time of the Registered Holder, furnish or cause to be furnished
to the Registered Holder a certificate setting forth (i) the Purchase Price then
in effect and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount, if any,
of other securities, cash or property which then would be received upon the
exercise of this Warrant.

3.  Fractional Shares.

                                       4

<PAGE>

         The Company shall not be required upon the exercise of this Warrant to
issue any fractional shares, but shall make an adjustment therefor in cash on
the basis of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock, as determined
pursuant to the following.

         (a) If the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange,
the Nasdaq Stock Market or another nationally recognized trading system
(including, without limitation, the OTC Bulletin Board and, if the average daily
trading volume for the preceding 10 days has been at least 100,000 shares, the
Pink Sheets) as of the Exercise Date, the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock shall be deemed to be the average of the high and low reported sale prices
per share of Common Stock thereon on the trading day immediately preceding the
Exercise Date (provided that if no such price is reported on such day, the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock shall be determined pursuant to clause
(b)).

         (b) If the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities
exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or another nationally recognized trading
system as of the Exercise Date, the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
shall be deemed to be the amount most recently determined by the Board of
Directors to represent the fair market value per share of the Common Stock
(including without limitation a determination for purposes of granting Common
Stock options or issuing Common Stock under an employee benefit plan of the
Company).

4.  Requirements for Transfer.

         (a) This Warrant and the Warrant Shares shall not be sold or
transferred unless either (i) they first shall have been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or (ii) the Company first shall
have been furnished with an opinion of legal counsel, reasonably satisfactory to
the Company, to the effect that such sale or transfer is exempt from the
registration requirements of the Act.

         (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no registration or opinion of
counsel shall be required for (i) a transfer by a Registered Holder which is a
corporation to a wholly owned subsidiary of such corporation, a transfer by a
Registered Holder which is a partnership to a partner of such partnership or a
retired partner of such partnership or to the estate of any such partner or
retired partner, a transfer by a Registered Holder which is a limited liability
company to a member of such limited liability company or a retired member or to
the estate of any such member or retired member, or a transfer by a Registered
Holder which is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (the
"NASD") to an officer or employee of the Registered Holder as permitted by NASD
rules, provided that the transferee in each case agrees in writing to be subject
to the terms of this Section 4, or (ii) a transfer made in accordance with Rule
144 under the Act.

         (c) Each certificate representing Warrant Shares shall bear a legend
substantially in the following form:

         "The securities represented by this certificate have not been
         registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be
         offered, sold or otherwise transferred, pledged or hypothecated unless
         and until such securities are registered

                                       5

<PAGE>

         under such Act or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company is
         obtained to the effect that such registration is not required."

The foregoing legend shall be removed from the certificates representing any
Warrant Shares, at the request of the holder thereof, at such time as they
become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Act or if an
effective registration statement is then in effect permitting the resale of the
Warrant Shares.

         (d) The Company will use its reasonable efforts to register the Warrant
Shares for resale. However, the Company can make no guarantees as to when, or
if, the Securities and Exchange Commission will declare a registration statement
covering the Warrant Shares to be effective.

5.  No Impairment.

         The Company will not, by amendment of its charter or through any
reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or
sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the
observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all
times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the
taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect
the rights of the holder of this Warrant against impairment.

6.  Notices of Record Date, etc.

         In the event:

         (a) the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock
(or other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of this
Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend
or other distribution, or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any
shares of stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other
right; or of any capital reorganization of the Company, any reclassification of
the Common Stock of the Company, any consolidation or merger of the Company with
or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the surviving entity and its Common Stock is not converted into or
exchanged for any other securities or property), or any transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

         (b) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up of the Company,

then, and in each such case, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to the
Registered Holder a notice specifying, as the case may be, (i) the record date
for such dividend, distribution or right, and the amount and character of such
dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution,
liquidation or winding-up is to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed,
as of which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other stock or
securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall be
entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock

                                       6

<PAGE>

(or such other stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable
upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer,
dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Such notice shall be mailed at least ten
days prior to the record date or effective date for the event specified in such
notice.

7.  Reservation of Stock.

         The Company will at all times reserve and keep available, solely for
issuance and delivery upon the exercise of this Warrant, such number of Warrant
Shares and other securities, cash and/or property, as from time to time shall be
issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant.

8.  Exchange of Warrants.

         Upon the surrender by the Registered Holder, properly endorsed, to the
Company at the principal office of the Company, the Company will, subject to the
provisions of Section 4 hereof, issue and deliver to or upon the order of such
Holder, at the Company's expense, a new Warrant or Warrants of like tenor, in
the name of the Registered Holder or as the Registered Holder (upon payment by
the Registered Holder of any applicable transfer taxes) may direct, calling in
the aggregate on the face or faces thereof for the number of shares of Common
Stock (or other securities, cash and/or property) then issuable upon exercise of
this Warrant.

9.  Replacement of Warrants.

         Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the
loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and (in the case of loss,
theft or destruction) upon delivery of an indemnity agreement (with surety if
reasonably required) in an amount reasonably satisfactory to the Company, or (in
the case of mutilation) upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the
Company will issue, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor.

10. Transfers, etc.

         (a) The Company will maintain a register containing the name and
address of the Registered Holder of this Warrant. The Registered Holder may
change its or his address as shown on the warrant register by written notice to
the Company requesting such change.

         (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 4 hereof, this Warrant and all
rights hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this
Warrant with a properly executed assignment (in the form of Exhibit II hereto)
at the principal office of the Company.

         (c) Until any transfer of this Warrant is made in the warrant register,
the Company may treat the Registered Holder as the absolute owner hereof for all
purposes; provided, however, that if and when this Warrant is properly assigned
in blank, the Company may (but shall not be

                                       7

<PAGE>

obligated to) treat the bearer hereof as the absolute owner hereof for all
purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.

11. Representations of the Registered Holder.

         The Registered Holder of this Warrant represents and warrants to the
Company as follows:

         (a) Investment. The Registered Holder is acquiring this Warrant and the
Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant, for its own account
for investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any
distribution thereof, nor with any present intention of distributing or selling
the same, except as otherwise may be permitted under applicable securities laws.

         (b) Authority. The Registered Holder has full power and authority to
enter into and to perform this Warrant in accordance with its terms. The
Registered Holder has not been organized specifically for the purpose of
investing in the Company.

         (c) Accredited Investor. The Registered Holder is an Accredited
Investor within the definition set forth in Rule 501(a) promulgated under the
Securities Act.

12. Mailing of Notices, etc.

         All notices and other communications from the Company to the Registered
Holder shall be mailed by first-class certified or registered mail, postage
prepaid, to the address last furnished to the Company in writing by the
Registered Holder. All notices and other communications from the Registered
Holder or in connection herewith to the Company shall be mailed by first-class
certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Company at its principal
office set forth below. If the Company should at any time change the location of
its principal office to a place other than as set forth below, it shall give
prompt written notice to the Registered Holder and thereafter all references in
this Warrant to the location of its principal office at the particular time
shall be as so specified in such notice.

13. No Rights as Stockholder.

         Until the exercise of this Warrant, the Registered Holder shall not
have or exercise any rights by virtue hereof as a stockholder of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event (i) the Company effects a split of
the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the Purchase Price of and the
number of Warrant Shares are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the
dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), and (ii) the
Registered Holder exercises this Warrant between the record date and the
distribution date for such stock dividend, the Registered Holder shall be
entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect
to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such exercise,

                                       8

<PAGE>

notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close
of business on the record date for such stock dividend.

14. Change or Waiver.

         Any term of this Warrant may be changed or waived only by an instrument
in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change or waiver
is sought.

15. Section Headings.

         The section headings in this Warrant are for the convenience of the
parties and in no way alter, modify, amend, limit or restrict the contractual
obligations of the parties.

16. Governing Law.

         This Warrant will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of California (without reference to the conflicts of
law provisions thereof).

         EXECUTED effective the Date of Issuance indicated above.

                                     IRVINE SENSORS CORPORATION



                                     By: John J. Stuart, Jr.
                                         --------------------------------

                                     Title: Senior VP & Chief Financial Officer
                                            ------------------------------------

                                       9

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT I
                                  PURCHASE FORM

To: IRVINE SENSORS CORPORATION                            Dated:________________


The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant
___________ hereby irrevocably elects to purchase:


         ____________ shares of the Common Stock covered by such Warrant


The undersigned herewith makes payment of the full purchase price for such
shares at the price per share provided for in such Warrant, which is $1.20 in
lawful money of the United States.

                                          Signature: ___________________________

                                          Address:

                                          ______________________________________

                                          ______________________________________

                                          ______________________________________

                                       10

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT II
                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ________________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers all of the rights of the undersigned under the attached
Warrant ___________ with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock covered
thereby set forth below, unto:

Name of Assignee                  Address                    No. of Shares






Dated:_____________________

Signature:________________________________

Signature Guaranteed:


By: _______________________


The signature should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks,
stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in
an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                                       11