Exhibit 10.15

                             2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                                       OF
                             ADVANCED PHOTONIX, INC.

           (As adopted by the Board of Directors as of July 24, 2000)


1. The Plan.  This 2000 Stock  Option Plan (the "Plan") is intended to encourage
ownership  of  stock  of  Advanced  Photonix,  Inc.  (which  together  with  its
subsidiaries is hereinafter  referred to as the  "Corporation") by employees and
directors  of,  and  consultants  and  advisors  to,  the  Corporation  and  its
subsidiaries and to provide additional incentive for them to promote the success
of the business of the Corporation.

2. Stock Subject to the Plan.  Except as otherwise  provided  herein,  the total
number of shares of Class A Common  Stock,  par value  $.001 per  share,  of the
Corporation  (the  "Stock")  which may be issued  pursuant  to the  exercise  of
options  granted  hereunder  ("Options")  shall  be One  Million,  Five  Hundred
Thousand  (1,500,000).  Such shares of Stock may be, in whole or in part, either
authorized and unissued  shares or treasury  shares as the Board of Directors of
the Corporation  (the "Board") shall from time to time  determine.  If an Option
shall expire or terminate for any reason  without having been exercised in full,
the  unpurchased  shares covered  thereby shall (unless the Plan shall have been
terminated) again be available for Options under the Plan.

3. Administration of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Board which
shall have plenary authority, in its discretion,  to determine the employees and
directors  of,  and  consultants  and  advisors  to,  the  Corporation  and  its
subsidiaries  to whom  Options  shall be  granted  ("Optionees"),  the number of
shares to be subject to each Option  (subject to the provisions of Paragraph 2),
the option exercise price (the "Exercise  Price")  (subject to the provisions of
Paragraph 7), the vesting schedule of each option, whether an Option is intended
to be an incentive  stock option (an "ISO") within the meaning of Section 422 of
the  Internal  Revenue  Code (the "Code") or whether it is intended not to be an
ISO (a "Non ISO") and the other terms of each Option. Acts approved at a meeting
by a majority  of the  members of the Board or acts  approved  in writing by the
unanimous  consent of the  members  of the Board  shall be the valid acts of the
Board. The Board shall have plenary authority, subject to the express provisions
of the Plan, to interpret  the Plan,  to prescribe,  amend and rescind any rules
and regulations relating to the Plan and to take such other action in connection
with  the  Plan as it deems  necessary  or  advisable.  The  interpretation  and
construction by the Board of any provisions of the Plan or of any Option granted
thereunder  shall be final and no member  of the Board  shall be liable  for any
action or  determination  made in good  faith  with  respect  to the Plan or any
Option granted thereunder by the Board.

4.  Employees  Eligible  for  Options.  All  employees  and  directors  of,  and
consultants  and  advisors  to, the  Corporation  shall be eligible for Options,
except that only employees of the Company shall be eligible for ISO's. In making
the determination as to persons to whom Options shall be granted,  the number of
shares to be covered by such Options,  and the other terms and conditions of the
Options,  the Board shall take into account such persons' duties,  their present
and potential  contributions to the success of the  Corporation,  and such other
factors as it shall deem relevant in connection with  accomplishing  the purpose
of the Plan.

5. Term of Plan.  The Plan shall  terminate  on, and no Options shall be granted
after,  July 24, 2010 provided that the Board may at any time terminate the Plan
prior thereto.

6. Maximum  Option  Grant.  Subject to the  provisions  of Section 2 above,  the
number of shares of Stock for which any individual may be granted  Options shall
be unlimited.

7. Exercise Price.  Each Option shall state the exercise  price,  which shall be
such price as the Board in its discretion may determine; provided, however, that
in the case of ISOs,  the exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the fair
market  value of the Stock on the date of the  granting of the Option,  nor less
than  110% of such  fair  market  value  in the  case  of an ISO  granted  to an
individual  who,  at the  time  the  Option  is  granted,  is a 10%  Holder  (as
hereinafter  defined).  The fair  market  value  of  shares  of  Stock  shall be
determined  by the Board and shall be (i) the closing  price of the Stock on the
American  Stock  Exchange on the date of the granting of the Option,  or (ii) if
the Stock  did not trade on such  date,  the mean  between  the high bid and low
asked prices.

8. Term of Options. The term of each Option granted under this Plan shall be for
a maximum of ten years from the date of granting thereof,  and a maximum of five
years in the case of an ISO  granted  to a 10%  Holder,  but may be for a lesser
period or be subject to earlier termination as hereinafter provided.

9. Exercise of Options. Except as otherwise provided by the Board, an Option may
be  exercised  from  time  to time as to any  part or all of the  Stock  covered
thereby,  provided,  however, that an Option may not be exercised (a) as to less
than 100  shares  at any time (or as to less  than  the  remaining  shares  then
purchasable  under the Option,  if less than 100  shares),  and (b) prior to the
expiration  of at least six months from the date of grant.  The  Exercise  Price
shall be paid in full at the time of the  exercise  of an Option  (i) in cash or
(ii) by the  transfer  to the  Corporation  of shares  of its Stock  with a fair
market value (as  determined  by the Board)  equal to the purchase  price of the
Stock  issuable upon exercise of such Option.  The holder of an Option shall not
have any  rights  as a  stockholder  with  respect  to the Stock  issuable  upon
exercise  of an  Option  until  certificates  for such  Stock  shall  have  been
delivered to him after the exercise of the Option.

10.  Non-Transferability  of  Options.  Except  as  provided  in  the  following
sentence, an Option shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution and is exercisable  during the lifetime of the of an
Option only by him or his  guardian or legal  representative.  Non ISO's will be
transferable to members of an Optionee's immediate family,  including trusts for
the benefit of such family members and partnerships in which such family members
are the only partners ("Permitted  Transferees").  A transferred Option would be
subject to all of the same terms and  conditions  as if such Option had not been
transferred.

11. Form of Option.  Each Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced
by an agreement (the "Option Agreement") which shall clearly identify the status
of the Options granted  thereunder  (i.e.,  whether an ISO or Non ISO) and which
shall be in such form as the Board shall from time to time  approve.  The Option
Agreement shall comply in all respects with the terms and conditions of the Plan
and may contain  such  additional  provisions,  including,  without  limitation,
restrictions upon the exercise of the Option, as the Board shall deem advisable.

12.  Termination of Options.  No Option shall be exercisable  after the first to
occur of the following:
a.   Expiration  of the Option term  specified in the Option,  which in no event
     shall exceed (A) ten years from the date of grant, or (B) in the case of an
     ISO granted to an Optionee who is a 10% Holder, five years from the date of
     the grant;

b.   (i) In the case of a non ISO,  six (6) months from the date of  termination
     or cessation of employment  of the Optionee for any reason;  or (ii) in the
     case of an ISO, six (6) months after the date the Optionee  ceases to be an
     employee  of the  Company  due to the  Optionee's  disability  (within  the
     meaning  of  Section  22(e)(3)  of the Code) or death,  or three (3) months
     following the date the Optionee ceases to be an employee of the Company for
     any reason other than disability or death.

c.   The date,  if any, set by the Board to be an  accelerated  expiration  date
     pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 17 below.

13.  Termination  or Cessation  of  Employment.  For  purposes of the Plan,  the
termination  of  membership  on the Board in the case of a  director  who is not
otherwise  an employee of the Company,  or the  termination  of the  contractual
relationship between the Corporation and a consultant or advisor shall be deemed
a termination or cessation of employment.

14. Limit on Exercise of Incentive  Stock  Options.  The  aggregate  Fair Market
Value  (determined  as of the time  Options are  granted) of the Shares of Stock
with respect to which ISO's may first become  exercisable  by an Optionee in any
one calendar year under the Plan and under any other plan of the  Corporation or
any subsidiary of the Corporation shall not exceed $100,000.  The limits imposed
by this  Paragraph 14 shall apply only to ISO's granted under the Plan,  and not
to any other Options.  In the event an individual receives an Option intended to
be an ISO which is subsequently  determined to have exceeded the limit set forth
above,  or if any  individual  is granted an Option  intended  to be an ISO that
first  become  exercisable  in a calendar  year for Option  Shares  that have an
aggregate fair market value  (determined as of the time the Options are granted)
that exceeds the limit set forth above,  the Options for Option Shares in excess
of the limit shall be treated as Non ISO's.

15. Stock Dividends or  Recapitalization.  In the event of a stock dividend paid
in shares of the class of stock subject to any Option outstanding hereunder,  or
recapitalization,  reclassification,  split-up  or  combination  of shares  with
respect  to said  class  of  stock,  the  Board  shall  have  the  power to make
appropriate  adjustments  of the  exercise  price  under such  option and of the
number and kind of shares as to which such  Option is then  exercisable,  to the
end that the Optionee's proportionate interest shall be maintained as before the
occurrence of such event,  and in any case an appropriate  adjustment shall also
be made in the total number and kind of shares of stock  reserved for the future
granting  of  Options  under this Plan.  Any such  adjustment  made by the Board
pursuant to this Plan shall be binding upon the holders of all unexpired Options
outstanding   hereunder.   Anything   in   the   foregoing   to   the   contrary
notwithstanding,  no such  adjustment  shall be made with  respect to any Option
which is an ISO without the consent of the Optionee, if such adjustment would be
a modification of such Option within the meaning of Section 424(h) of the Code.

16. Mergers, Consolidation, Reorganization, Etc. If the Corporation shall become
a party to any corporate merger,  agreement for the sale of substantially all of
its assets and property, separation or reorganization,  the Board shall have the
power to make appropriate arrangements,  which shall be binding upon the holders
of unexpired  Options,  for the  substitution  of new Options for any  unexpired
Options then  outstanding  under this Plan,  or for the  assumption  of any such
unexpired  Options,  which in the opinion of the Board maintain,  to the maximum
extent  practicable,   the  Optionee's  proportionate  interest  as  before  the
occurrence of such event; provided, however, that such arrangements with respect
to ISO's shall meet the requirements of Sections 422 and 424(h) of the Code.

17. Liquidation or Dissolution of the Corporation.

a.   In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation,  whether
     voluntary or otherwise,  and unless in connection therewith the obligations
     of the Corporation  under all  outstanding  Options granted under this Plan
     have been assumed or replaced in  accordance  with  Section 16 hereof,  all
     options  outstanding under this Plan shall be exercised,  if at all, within
     the ninety day period  commencing on the date specified in subparagraph (b)
     below and shall be  exercisable to the extent only of, and with respect to,
     any or all shares for which  they  could  have been  exercised  immediately
     prior to such date. All Options not exercisable prior to the date specified
     in  subparagraph  (b) shall  terminate  upon  such  date,  and all  Options
     exercisable  immediately  prior  to such  date  shall,  to the  extent  not
     exercised within the ninety-day period  commencing on such date,  terminate
     at the end of such ninety-day period.

b.   The date specified in this  subparagraph (b) is the date of the earliest to
     occur of the following events:
     i.   The entry,  in a court  having  jurisdiction,  of an  order  that  the
          Corporation be liquidated or dissolved;
     ii.  Adoption  by the  shareholders  of  the  Corporation  of a  resolution
          resolving that the corporation be liquidated or dissolved voluntarily;
          or
     iii. Adoption by the  shareholders  of the  Corporation of a resolution to
          the effect that the Corporation cannot, by reason of its liabilities,
          continue its business and that it is advisable to liquidate or
          dissolve the Corporation.

18.  Shareholder  and Stock  Exchange  Approval.  This Plan is subject to and no
Options shall be exercisable  hereunder  until after the approval by the holders
of a majority of the Stock of the  Corporation  voting at a duly held meeting of
the  stockholders of the Corporation  within twelve months after the date of the
adoption of the Plan by the Board.

19.  Amendment of the Plan. The Board shall have complete power and authority to
modify or amend the Plan  (including the form of Option  Agreement) from time to
time in such respects as it shall deem advisable;  provided,  however,  that the
Board shall not, without the approval of the votes  represented by a majority of
the  outstanding  Stock of the  Corporation  present or represented at a meeting
duly  held  in  accordance  with  the  applicable  laws  of  the   Corporation's
jurisdiction of incorporation  and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders
or by the written consent of stockholders  owning stock  representing a majority
of the votes of the  Corporation's  outstanding  stock, (i) increase the maximum
number of shares which in the  aggregate  are subject to Options  under the Plan
(except as provided by  Paragraph  15),  (ii) extend the term of the Plan or the
period  during  which  Options  may be granted or  exercised,  (iii)  reduce the
Exercise  Price,  in the  case of ISOs  below  100%  (110% in the case of an ISO
granted to a 10% Holder) of the fair  market  value of the Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of Options at the time of the  granting  thereof,  other than to change
the manner of  determining  the fair market  value  thereof,  (iv)  increase the
maximum number of shares of Stock for which any employee may be granted  Options
under the Plan  pursuant  to  Paragraph  6, (v)  modify the  requirements  as to
eligibility for participation in the Plan, or (vi) with respect to options which
are ISOs,  amend the plan in any respect  which  would cause such  options to no
longer  qualify  for ISO  treatment  pursuant  to the Code.  No  termination  or
amendment  of the Plan shall,  without the consent of the  individual  Optionee,
adversely affect the rights of such Optionee under an Option theretofore granted
to him or under such Optionee's Option Agreement.

20. Taxes.  The Corporation may make such provisions as it may deem  appropriate
for the  withholding  of any taxes which it determines is required in connection
with any Options  granted under the Plan. The  Corporation  may further  require
notification  from the Optionees upon any disposition of Stock acquired pursuant
to the exercise of Options granted hereunder.

21. Code References and Definitions.  Whenever reference is made in this Plan to
a section of the Code,  the  reference  shall be to said section as it is now in
force or as it may hereafter be amended by any amendment  which is applicable to
this  Plan.  The term  "subsidiary"  shall  have the  meaning  given to the term
"subsidiary  corporation"  by Section  424(f) of the Code. The term "10% Holder"
shall mean any person  who,  for  purposes  of Section 422 of the Code owns more
than 10% of the  total  combined  voting  power of all  classes  of stock of the
employer corporation or of any subsidiary corporation.