Short‑Wave Infrared (SWIR) imaging—operating in the 0.9–2.5 µm spectral band—has limitless application for modern defense forces. By capturing reflected near‑infrared light rather than emitted thermal radiation, SWIR cameras deliver higher spatial resolution, greater material contrast, and the ability to “see” through obscurants such as smoke, dust, and haze. Recent advances in high‑speed global‑shutter designs have dramatically reduced size, weight, power, and cost of SWIR. Today’s systems—light enough for handheld use, UAV integration, or vehicle mounts—provide defense and reconnaissance teams with continuous, day‑night situational awareness across varied environments and mission profiles.
LWIR versus SWIR for Defense
Long‑Wave Infrared cameras detect thermal emissions and excel at passive temperature‑based imaging—ideal for heat‑signature surveillance, search‑and‑rescue, or identifying hidden personnel at night. However, LWIR’s longer wavelengths scatter more in the atmosphere and yield lower resolution compared to SWIR. In contrast, SWIR wavelengths lie closer to the visible spectrum, meaning they scatter less when passing through particulate matter and can leverage ambient illumination (solar, starlight, or moonlight). This provides finer detail at distance, higher contrast between different materials, and the ability to detect objects that neither visible‑light nor thermal‑imaging systems can resolve. Moreover, SWIR sensors can be paired with optical filters to emphasize specific spectral features, allowing for passive spectral‑fingerprinting of materials in rugged environments.
Enhanced Battlefield Visibility
High‑speed SWIR cameras revolutionize visibility in smoke‑filled environments, desert dust storms, and forest fire–impacted areas. When mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or rotary‑wing platforms, they maintain reliable line‑of‑sight imaging. By capturing reflected near‑infrared light, SWIR systems reveal the outlines of vehicles, personnel, and equipment hidden behind thin smoke layers—information that would otherwise be lost to scattering. This capability is invaluable for over‑the‑horizon target acquisition, convoy protection, and route‑clearance, ensuring that teams receive actionable intelligence even in the poorest visibility.
Material Identification & Threat Detection
Beyond mere imaging, SWIR’s spectral sensitivity unlocks material‑identification possibilities. Each substance—metal alloys, plastics, fabrics, or chemical agents—reflects near‑infrared wavelengths in distinctive patterns. High‑speed SWIR cameras can rapidly classify camouflaged targets, detect explosive devices beneath debris or foliage, and verify the composition of suspected threats from a safe standoff distance. In addition, military‑grade lasers used for target designation and range finding operate in the SWIR band; conventional cameras cannot see these beams, but SWIR sensors pick up diffuse reflections of the laser spot, enabling real‑time tracking without alerting adversaries.
Covert Operations & Surveillance
SWIR imaging is inherently covert: it relies on passive collection of ambient near‑infrared light and does not require active illumination that might reveal observation posts or UAVs. This makes SWIR systems ideal for long‑duration border‑security watches, surveillance patrols, and reconnaissance. Miniaturized SWIR modules—often under 100 grams and drawing less than 4 W—can be embedded in mounted sighting systems, granting units advanced night‑vision capabilities without bulky thermal cameras. On small UAVs, SWIR payloads provide persistent surveillance over wide areas, detecting unauthorized crossings, monitoring high‑risk checkpoints, and feeding live video to command centers.
KAYA’s Mercury SWIFT: Ideal SWIR for Defense
KAYA Instruments’ Mercury SWIFT is built for defense. At just 44 × 44 × 35 mm and 100 g, it houses a global‑shutter InGaAs sensor that delivers 640 × 512‑pixel images at up to 1,600 fps via a Micro‑BNC CoaXPress v2.1 interface. With 10 × 10 µm pixels and EMVA1288‑verified dynamic range, Mercury SWIFT captures subtle reflections even under starlight. Its < 4 W power draw supports extended UAV sorties, and the –40 °C to +80 °C operating range ensures mission‑critical reliability in arctic, desert, or tropical environments. Onboard defect‑pixel correction, gain control, and programmable image‑enhancement features simplify deployment, while GenICam compatibility and a full SDK allow rapid integration with existing platforms. Tested for rugged durability, Mercury SWIFT has proven its ability to maintain target‑acquisition fidelity where other sensors fail.
By merging obscurant penetration, spectral‑fingerprinting, and compact high‑speed imaging, SWIR for defense transcends traditional visible‑light and thermal modalities. Cameras like KAYA’s Mercury SWIFT offer enhanced situational awareness, precision target detection, and truly covert observation—capabilities that are reshaping the future of defense.
