MKS-Ophir has introduced a re-engineered long-wave infrared continuous zoom lens designed to reduce dependency on germanium optical materials and mitigate supply-chain risks for thermal imaging systems.
Announced at the Eurosatory 2026 exhibition, where MKS-Ophir is showcasing the product at Hall 6 Booth G254, the Ophir LightIR 15-75 mm f/1.2 LWIR motorized continuous zoom lens targets long-term defense, homeland security, and surveillance programs. The low-germanium architecture addresses growing optical industry concerns regarding material availability, export sensitivities, and pricing volatility.
Optimized for VGA 10-12 µm uncooled LWIR detectors, the lens provides a horizontal field of view ranging from a 29.9° wide field of view down to a 5.8° narrow field of view for 640×480 VGA 12 µm detectors. This capability supports both wide-area situational awareness and long-range target observation. The compact lens weighs 349 g and measures Ø75 × 75.6 mm, making it suitable for size, weight, and power constrained platforms such as airborne, ground, handheld, perimeter security, and unmanned thermal imaging systems.
To ensure environmental robustness in demanding defense and security settings, the lens incorporates advanced hard-coatings, including hard carbon and Diamond-Like Carbon coatings. Furthermore, MKS-Ophir provides dedicated lens-to-detector adapter options to accommodate the updated back working distance and mechanical interface adjustments, facilitating a smooth transition from legacy full-germanium designs.
Dr. Kobi Lasri, General Manager of Ophir Optics Products, commented, “Germanium has long been a foundational infrared optical material, but increasing global demand, limited raw material availability, export sensitivities, and pricing volatility are creating growing challenges for thermal imaging system manufacturers and long-term defense programs,
“MKS’ re-engineered optical architecture was developed to mitigate these risks while preserving the high-performance imaging capabilities required for mission-critical applications. The new Ophir low-germanium optical lenses help customers lower supply-chain and lifecycle risk while maintaining the high optical performance expected from Ophir infrared imaging products.”
This product is the initial release in an expanding low-germanium LWIR optics portfolio that will eventually include fixed-focus lenses covering wide to narrow field-of-view configurations. The lens is currently available, with original equipment manufacturer pricing provided upon request.
