For more than six decades in the UK, Leonardo has developed secure communications and surveillance systems including thermal imaging technology, leading the industry with the UK’s first military standard production thermal imaging sensor in the form of the TICM (Thermal Imaging Common Modules) in the mid-1970s. 

Leonardo’s capability to deliver solutions for defence and civil applications is based on our extensive experience in the core infrared technology elements. This includes manufacturing high-performance thermal imagers (such as Horizon and SLX SuperHawk products), the development of stabilised Electro Optic directors, platform and mission system integration expertise, and image processing algorithms, all of which are currently supporting a variety of land, naval and avionic platforms.

Our thermal imagers, integrated into the NERIO VLR (Very-Long Range) and ULR (Ultra-Long Range) family of Surveillance and Target Acquisition products, provide an enabling capability for the provision of Counter Uncrewed Airborne Systems (CUAS), Border and Coastal Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection in both a fixed, mobile and sensing-on-the move deployment.