Anduril Unveils New Family of Passive Infrared Sensors

Anduril Industries' family of airborne imaging and targeting sensors, called Iris, are designed to autonomously detect and track hundreds of targets at long ranges in contested environments By Joseph Macey / 09 Feb 2024

Discover Leading Defense Technology Solutions

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Anduril Unveils Iris Sensor Family for Passive Airborne Imaging and Targeting
Follow DA

Anduril Industries has introduced Iris, a family of passive airborne imaging and targeting sensors with advanced technology to support a range of airborne combat applications such as infrared search and track (IRST), missile warning, visualization, and targeting.

Iris is a passive sensor, meaning that it does not emit significant radiation and cannot be easily detected or disrupted when operating in contested environments.

Iris is adaptable to most aircraft, including Autonomous Air Vehicles (AAVs) and uncrewed platforms, to enable autonomous, artificial intelligence-powered image processing at the edge to detect and track hundreds of targets at long ranges.

Iris benefits from rapid iterations and timely software updates to continuously improve performance, adapt to new situations, and ensure that operators are able to keep pace with the speed of modern conflict.

“In a future fight, airborne systems will be faced with numerous targets and threats moving across all domains,” said Brian Schimpf, Co-Founder and CEO of Anduril Industries. “Airborne sensors must be able to rapidly and autonomously detect, track, identify, and classify each of those targets simultaneously. We built Iris with this in mind, leveraging our expertise in advanced infrared imaging technology and sensor integration that has been at the core of Anduril’s product offerings since our founding.”

Iris leverages Anduril’s proprietary and proven Computational Pixel Imager (CPI) technology that uses processors in every pixel to reduce noise and enable accurate detections at more extreme ranges than previously thought possible. That capability is facilitated by real-time AI detection and classification that autonomously identifies and tracks hundreds of objects of interest to help operators see potential targets through the noise.

“Iris builds on the success and broad adoption of WISP, our CPI-enabled long-range passive sensing solution that is now deployed for critical Counter UAS, Air Defense, and Counter Intrusion missions around the world,” added Matthew Steckman, Chief Revenue Officer at Anduril. “We are proud to offer cutting-edge performance at low cost, with scalable production that leverages novel material science and manufacturing approaches to drive affordability and competitive lead times of critical components. Like all Anduril products, Iris is backed up by our software-first mindset that ensures continuous algorithm improvements across the entire lifecycle of the platform.”

Anduril Industries will offer the Iris family of systems as a mission systems supplier to government customers and prime contractors seeking advanced airborne imaging solutions.

Inherently modular and flexible, Iris offers several configurations across lens type, wavelength, and pixel image format to bring best-in-class imaging performance to any mission set. Iris is designed to be Open Mission System (OMS) compliant and leverages an adaptive and low size, weight, and power (SWaP) design that can be used on a variety of airborne platforms.

Posted by Joseph Macey Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Leveraging Modularity for Operational Agility in Defense Applications

MilDef outlines how modularity ensures that defense forces can respond rapidly to evolving operational requirements while maintaining system longevity and performance consistency

Apr 23, 2025
Rugged Supercomputing Solutions Company Receives AI Excellence Award

Aitech has won an Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award for the A230 Vortex rugged AI supercomputer, designed to meet growing demands for higher power and enhanced efficiency

Apr 23, 2025
GA-ASI Advances 3D Printing for Small & Medium-Altitude UAS

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has completed a full UAS airframe using metal additive manufacturing, advancing 3D printing applications in partnership with the Department of Defense

Apr 23, 2025
Advanced Passive Acoustic Monitoring Systems for Defense & Maritime Security

Defense Advancement showcases Ocean Sonic's range of passive underwater acoustic monitoring solutions for military, naval and security applications

Apr 23, 2025
MKS Instruments Unveils Ophir® SupIR 10-135mm f/1.8 Continuous Zoom MWIR Lens

MKS Instruments has introduced a motorized MWIR lens with 14x zoom, enabling high-resolution thermal imaging and long-range target detection in defense and security applications

Apr 22, 2025
GuideNav Highlights the Role of IMUs for Loitering Systems

GuideNav outlines how inertial measurement units support navigation and targeting in loitering munitions, with attention to key performance metrics and mission-specific requirements

Apr 22, 2025

Featured Content

Ophir® FoldIR Lens Enhances Long-Range Imaging for Defense & Security Operations

The new Ophir® FoldIR 25-275mm MWIR zoom lens delivers compact, long-range imaging with low-SWaP performance for drones and small gimbal platforms

Apr 17, 2025
Textron Systems to Support Software & Payload Development for Navy’s MCM USV

Textron Systems is set to support the software development and payload integration for the Navy’s Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), focusing on future mission capabilities and advanced system integration

Apr 14, 2025
Triad RF Systems Supplies Bi-Directional Amplifiers to Boost Naval Communications

Taiwan has received dual-channel bi-directional amplifiers (BDAs) from Triad RF Systems, strengthening real-time data transmission and ISR functionality in unmanned naval platforms

Apr 11, 2025
Advancing Defense Capability Through Strategic Collaboration Defense Advancement works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive defense capabilities forward.