Find Military Infrared System manufacturers & suppliers of IR sensors, cameras & infrared countermeasures for defense; army, navy, marine and air force applications
Infrared (IR) is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the human eye. All objects emit radiation relative to their temperature, and most of this radiation is in the infrared spectrum. This means that infrared detectors can be used to distinguish objects such as people, living things, aircraft and vehicle engines, and weapons.
Infrared Cameras
Thermal imaging cameras such as forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras can be used to sense infrared radiation levels and map these to an image or video output. They may detect long-wave (LWIR), medium-wave (MWIR) or short-wave (SWIR) infrared, depending on the application.
IR cameras can be used for a wide variety of military applications such as ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), navigation and operating vehicles at night, and seeing through smoke, fog and dust. Thermographic cameras may be integrated into gimbals along with visible cameras to provide EO/IR (electro-optical/infrared) systems for aircraft, vehicles, vessels, and static defenses such as counter-UAS systems.
Infrared Sensors
IR sensors may be cooled or uncooled. Cooled systems use cryogenics to keep them at an extremely low temperature. They provide high-quality, low-noise imagery and are highly sensitive to minute temperature differences, but are more expensive than uncooled systems. Due to the extra cooling equipment, they also have a larger SwaP (size, weight and power) footprint.
Night vision goggles, binoculars and weapons sights may also use thermal imaging technology to capture infrared radiation, allowing ground troops and special forces to operate at night.
Infrared Jamming & Countermeasures
Infrared sensors are used on heat-seeking missiles to detect heat sources such as aircraft engines. These infrared homing missiles can then steer themselves towards the target by tracking this heat source. Infrared countermeasures include flares, which provide alternative IR sources to confuse the missile and cause it to miss its target, and infrared jammers, which aim to overpower the missile’s IR detector with high-powered signals.
Defense Advancement showcases Teledyne FLIR OEM's thermal imaging solutions, with intelligent sensing and threat detection technologies, for mission-critical platforms including UAS/UGVs, dismounted soldier equipment, and counter-drone systems
Teledyne FLIR OEM has released new compact, highly sensitive uncooled thermal infrared camera modules that use radiometry to enable pixel-level temperature data collection
Semi Conductor Devices (SCD) has secured a significant order for its Crane MWIR detector, set to enhance airborne missile warning systems with high-resolution imaging and superior threat detection
Teledyne FLIR will showcase its solutions ‘designed for the heat of the action’ at Enforce Tac 2025, including thermal monocular solutions for law enforcement agencies and more
L3Harris Technologies’ WESCAM MX-15D EO/IR systems, with advanced stabilization and automatic video tracking, will be delivered to Germany’s new fleet of multi-role helicopters
Ophir’s lenses and optical components manufacturing facility in Romania has relocated and expanded, introducing high-precision technology to support the fast-growing defense industry
Teledyne FLIR Defense will deliver its Star SAFIRE 380-HLD multi-spectral imaging systems to the JMSDF, delivering long-range high-definition visual and thermal imagery to operators
MKS Ophir's webinar will see Peter Kunert explore the advantages of SWIR lenses and how they play a pivotal role in air, land, and maritime imaging, offering visibility even in challenging conditions
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