en.Wedoany.com Reported - French infrared imaging technology company LYNRED has announced the launch of the DRACO MW SL, a new cooled infrared detector designed for next-generation defense and surveillance systems. This detector offers the same image stability and spectral bandwidth as the ARGO SL detector launched by LYNRED in April, while introducing SXGA high-definition resolution and a 7.5µm pixel pitch.
As modern defense operations increasingly rely on drones and autonomous systems, infrared imaging technology faces higher performance expectations. Electro-optical cameras on vehicles and anti-drone systems must operate efficiently in highly constrained environments while ensuring long-range detection and identification capabilities, including under degraded visibility conditions such as smoke, fog, or complete darkness. At the same time, system integrators are seeking lighter, more compact, and lower-power solutions to simplify deployment and integration. These evolving operational requirements are driving demand for advanced thermal imaging solutions, particularly in the rapidly expanding anti-drone market. According to the latest market estimates, the global counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) market is expected to grow from $1.5 billion in 2023 to approximately $8.4 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate of 34%.
Based on LYNRED's advanced T2SL technology, the DRACO MW SL operates at 130 Kelvin, achieving optimized size, weight, and power (SWAP). This detector combines high sensitivity, long life, and compact integration in a single architecture, optimized for high-performance defense applications. The DRACO MW SL also embeds LYNRED's PlugUpTM platform, which standardizes interfaces and simplifies the integration of cooled detectors. By using a split linear cryocooler, this design streamlines product integration in OEM cameras, reduces time to market, and improves overall system reliability. By adding the DRACO MW SL to a product line that already includes GALATEA SL, EOLE, SEEGNUS SL, and ARGO SL, LYNRED enables manufacturers to adopt a common design and architecture across product families targeting different market segments and performance levels.
The DRACO MW SL offers several key technical features, including: SXGA 1280×1024 resolution with 7.5µm pixel pitch; full MWIR spectral coverage (3.7-4.8 µm); 60 Hz frame rate; high operating temperature (HOT) capability at 130 K; and T2SL infrared technology. The introduction of SXGA resolution enhances detection, recognition, and identification (DRI) performance while providing a wider field of view—a feature particularly critical for anti-drone operations, where systems must simultaneously monitor ground and aerial threats within a large observation area. Unlike previous MWIR solutions limited to narrower spectral ranges, the DRACO MW SL operates across the entire MWIR band, thereby improving performance in photon-limited environments such as cold or humid conditions.
"Thanks to the launch of the DRACO SL, our customers will be able to easily upgrade their existing full-MWIR band solutions while enjoying high-definition format, longer product life, and enhanced image quality," said Pierre Jenouvrier, Director of the Cooled Products Business Unit at LYNRED. By incorporating the DRACO MW SL into its portfolio, LYNRED now offers an industry-wide range of infrared technologies covering T2SL, IGn, InGaAs, MCT, and bolometer solutions, enabling customers to select the technical approach based on their operational constraints and mission requirements.
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