Drone Infrared Imaging

Commercial drones and quadcopter platforms are increasingly deployed across homeland security, industrial inspections, and commercial operations. Equipped with thermal imaging, they play a critical role in electrical power line and oil pipeline inspection, forest fire detection, infrastructure security, and firefighting support, providing actionable data even in poor visibility or complete darkness.

Ophir IR Optical Assemblies

Ophir designs and delivers advanced IR optical assemblies tailored to the demanding requirements of commercial drones. Our solutions emphasize low-SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) performance, enabling small form factor, ultra-lightweight designs with minimal power consumption—key factors for extending mission duration, payload flexibility, and operational efficiency.

Lens Portfolio and Folded-Optics Solutions

Our IR portfolio includes fixed-focus, motorized focus, and continuous zoom lenses for LWIR, MWIR, and SWIR imaging. Highlighted within this portfolio are Ophir's Folded-Optics solutions: the FoldIR and LightIR series, which combine compact mechanical design with high-resolution optical performance. These lenses allow operators to integrate long-range, high-quality imaging into constrained platforms without compromising flight endurance or system stability.

Commercial Drone Imaging Lens Characteristics

Small form factor lenses for integration into miniature gimbals
High optical performance with diffraction-limited design
Low power consumption to maximize endurance
High durability with low-reflection, hard carbon AR coating
Fast field-of-view (FOV) change
Continuous zoom with fixed F# and maintained focus across the range
Accurate thru-zoom boresight performance
Athermal compensation for stable operation across wide temperature ranges
Pre-set, discrete zoom positions for mission flexibility
CPU control via RS-485 or RS-232 for seamless system integration

MWIR Imaging Lenses for Drone / UAV Applications

Description	Features
SupIR 10-135mm f/1.8 Motorized Cont. Zoom MWIR 5μm SXGA Imaging Lenses	Optimized for 1280x1024 resolution, 5μm pixel pitch MWIR cooled detectors Detection range exceeding 17km, NATO vehicle detection Continuous zoom lens with 14x zoom ratio High Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) maximizing image clarity for long-range target detection and thermal contrast enhancement	SupIR 10-135mm f/1.8 Motorized Cont. Zoom MWIR 5μm SXGA Imaging Lenses
LightIR 10-135 mm f/3.6 Motorized MWIR Zoom Imaging Lens	Weight 250gr Dimensions Ø46 x 86.4mm Detection range 11.4km Designed for MWIR 10μm pitch VGA detectors	LightIR 10-135 mm f/3.6 Motorized MWIR Zoom Imaging Lens
FoldIR 16-180mm f/3.6 10µm VGA MWIR Zoom Lens	Weight 465gr Dimensions 121 x 70 x 102 mm Detection range 13.7km Designed for MWIR 10µm VGA detectors	FoldIR 16-180mm f/3.6 10µm VGA MWIR Zoom Lens
LightIR 18-225 mm f/3.6 Motorized MWIR Zoom Imaging Lens	Weight 305g Dimensions Ø63 x 84.6mm Detection range 15.5km Designed for MWIR 10µm VGA detectors	LightIR 18-225 mm f/3.6 Motorized MWIR Zoom Imaging Lens
LightIR 18-225 mm f/4.0 Motorized MWIR Zoom SXGA Imaging Lens	Efficient compact optics design for max. volume use Designed for MWIR 10 µm SXGA and 15 µm VGA Detectors Ideal for mini/micro tactical payloads Detection range exceeds 16 km	LightIR 18-225 mm f/4.0 Motorized MWIR Zoom SXGA Imaging Lens
LightIR 20–275mm f/5.5 MWIR Motorized Continuous Zoom Lenses	Smallest, most lightweight continuous zoom lens on the market Long-range capabilities of up to 14.9 km detection range Unique optomechanical design and focus movement High-durability and low reflection hard-carbon 3-5 µm wavelength AR coatings	LightIR 20–275mm f/5.5 MWIR Motorized Continuous Zoom Lenses
FOLDIR 25-275 mm f/5.5 Low-SWaP Cont. Zoom Lens	Weighs 302gr Efficient folded optics design for minimum volume use with total volume size of 107mm x 101.5mm x 96mm including detector Designed for MWIR 15μm VGA detectors Detection range exceeds 14.5km*	FOLDIR 25-275 mm f/5.5 Low-SWaP Cont. Zoom Lens

LWIR Imaging Lenses for Drone / UAV Applications

Description	Features
SupIR 16-80 mm f/1.2 LWIR Motorized Continuous Zoom Imaging Lenses	Optimized for 10-12μm 1280 x 1024 SXGA LWIR uncooled detectors Detection range exceeding 8km for NATO vehicle targets Compact design with Ø93.6 x 108.4mm and 705g weight Optimized for integration into small UAVs, ISR payloads, and portable surveillance systems	SupIR 16-80 mm f/1.2 LWIR Motorized Continuous Zoom Imaging Lenses
LightIR 15-75 mm f/1.2 LWIR Motorized Zoom Imaging Lens	Most lightweight, compact, continuous zoom lenses on the market at 325 g Ideal for low-SWaP applications Optimized for 10-12 micron pixel size uncooled LWIR cameras Maintains sharp focus over the entire motorized 15-60 mm zoom range	LightIR 15-75 mm f/1.2 LWIR Motorized Zoom Imaging Lens
SupIR 15-60 mm f/1.4 LWIR Motorized Zoom Imaging Lens	Advanced technologies for the highest performance long wave focal planes LWIR High-durability and hard-carbon AR coatings for 8-12 µm Passive athermalization with the highest imaging performance from -32 to +80°C Compatible with 12 & 17 μm pixel pitch, 640x480 VGA format LWIR cameras	SupIR 15-60 mm f/1.4 LWIR Motorized Zoom Imaging Lens
SupIR 7.5 mm f/1.4 Fixed 1-FOV LWIR Imaging Lens	Advanced technologies for the highest performance long wave focal planes LWIR Hard-carbon AR coating for 8-12 µm Passive athermalization with the highest imaging performance from -40 to +80°C Compatible with 12 & 17 μm pixel pitch, 640x480 VGA format LWIR cameras	SupIR 7.5 mm f/1.4 Fixed 1-FOV LWIR Imaging Lens
SupIR 13.6 mm f/1.0 Fixed 1-FOV LWIR VGA Imaging Lens	Advanced technologies for the highest performance long wave focal planes LWIR High-durability and hard-carbon AR coatings for 8-12 µm Passive athermalization with the highest imaging performance from -40 to +85°C Compatible with 12 μm pixel pitch, 640x480 VGA format LWIR cameras	SupIR 13.6 mm f/1.0 Fixed 1-FOV LWIR VGA Imaging Lens
SupIR 15.7mm f/1.0, Manual Focus MWIR XGA Imaging Lens	Advanced technologies for the highest performance mid-wave focal planes Hard-carbon AR coatings for 3.6-4.9μm MWIR wavelengths Passive athermalization with the highest imaging performance from -20 to +60°C Compatible with 12μm pixel pitch, 1024 XGA format MWIR cameras	SupIR 15.7mm f/1.0, Manual Focus MWIR XGA Imaging Lens
SupIR 19 mm f/1.1 Fixed 1-FOV LWIR XGA Imaging Lens	Advanced technologies for the highest performance long wave focal planes LWIR hard-carbon AR coating for 8-12 µm Passive athermalization with the highest imaging performance from -40 to +80°C Compatible with 12 μm pixel pitch, 1024x768 XGA format LWIR cameras	SupIR 19 mm f/1.1 Fixed 1-FOV LWIR XGA Imaging Lens
SupIR 25 mm f/1.2 Fixed 1-FOV LWIR XGA Imaging Lens	Advanced technologies for the highest performance long wave focal planes LWIR High-durability and hard-carbon AR coatings for 8-12 µm Passive athermalization with the highest imaging performance from -40 to +80°C Compatible with 12 μm pixel pitch, 1024x768 XGA format LWIR cameras	SupIR 25 mm f/1.2 Fixed 1-FOV LWIR XGA Imaging Lens
SupIR 35 mm f/1.2 Fixed 1-FOV LWIR XGA Imaging Lens	Advanced technologies for the highest performance long wave focal planes LWIR High-durability and hard-carbon AR coatings for 8-12 µm Passive athermalization with the highest imaging performance from -40 to +80°C Compatible with 12 μm pixel pitch, 1024x768 XGA format LWIR cameras	SupIR 35 mm f/1.2 Fixed 1-FOV LWIR XGA Imaging Lens
SupIR 75 mm f/1.2 Manual 1-FOV MWIR SXGA Imaging Lens	Advanced technologies for the highest performance mid-wave focal planes High-durability and hard-carbon AR coatings for 3.4-5 μm MWIR wavelengths Passive athermalization with the highest imaging performance from -20 to +55°C Compatible with 10 μm pixel pitch, 1280x1024 SXGA format MWIR cameras	SupIR 75 mm f/1.2 Manual 1-FOV MWIR SXGA Imaging Lens