Compact IR Detector Targets Tactical Drones and Soldier-Borne Apps

A turnkey mid-wave infrared module enables high-performance thermal imaging for tactical drones and other applications.
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April 21, 2026
2 min read
LYNRED
LYNRED's ARGO SL compact Infrared detector for drones.

LYNRED's ARGO SL compact Infrared detector for drones.

LYNRED's ARGO SL mid-wave infrared (MWIR) module offers VGA resolution for thermal imaging in applications sensitive to size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints, such as tactical drones and soldier-borne applications.
 
Designed for surveillance and defense system integrators, the solution delivers full MWIR performance, providing detection and identification where visible cameras fail.
 
The module integrates a type II superlattice (T2SL) focal plane array operating at 130 K, covering the MWIR band from 3.7 to 4.8 µm. ARGO SL complements the existing portfolio, which includes the GALATEA SL that operates in the MWIR blue band between 3.6 and 4.2 µm.
 
While the MWIR blue band delivers the highest detection range with the lowest power consumption, the extended spectral coverage offered by the MWIR red band enhances signal-to-noise ratio and improves image quality. 
 
The ARGO SL delivers VGA resolution at 640 × 512 pixels with a 15-µm pixel pitch at a power consumption of 4 W. Its compact format is compatible with sub-6-inch gimbals for tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, and can also be deployed in handheld or soldier-worn systems.
 
The ARGO SL is part of LYNRED’s PlugUp platform, which standardizes interfaces and streamlines integration of cooled detectors, simplifying product integration and enhancing overall system reliability. An advanced thermal imager variation is available, too, with image correction functions such as non-uniformity correction, bad pixel replacement, denoising, destriping, and color mapping. 

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About the Author

Alix Paultre
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Alix Paultre

Editor-at-Large, Microwaves & RF

Alix is Editor-at-Large for Microwaves & RF. 

An Army veteran, Alix Paultre was a signals intelligence soldier on the East/West German border in the early ‘80s, and eventually wound up helping launch and run a publication on consumer electronics for the U.S. military stationed in Europe. Alix first began in this industry in 1998 at Electronic Products magazine, and since then has worked for a variety of publications, most recently as Editor-in-Chief of Power Systems Design.

Alix currently lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.