The LightIR 16-180mm f/3.6 lens is designed to be lightweight and compact, making it ideal for continuous zoom applications in SWaP-constrained environments, particularly for tactical UAV gimbals. Tailored for 10 µm pitch 640×480 VGA FPA detectors, this lens strikes a perfect balance between size, weight, and operational range, enabling advanced thermal imaging capabilities in drones, with the ability to detect vehicles from distances exceeding 13 kilometers.

Featuring a distinctive and highly efficient folded optics configuration, this lens achieves extended optical lengths while maintaining near-diffraction-limit performance even in challenging conditions. It ensures sharp focus throughout the entire zoom range, effectively tackling critical issues such as line-of-sight (LOS) stabilization and athermalization.