Ukrainian company Seek UAV is preparing to launch local production of lenses for thermal imaging cameras, which are used to equip strike and interceptor drones. This should reduce dependence on Chinese components and strengthen its own component base for defense technologies.
Ukrainian company Seek UAV is preparing to launch local production of lenses for thermal imaging cameras, which are used to equip strike and interceptor drones. This should reduce dependence on Chinese components and strengthen its own component base for defense technologies.
As the specialized publication «Military» reports, citing a company representative at the Brave1 Components event, Seek UAV is currently replacing the imported Chinese lens in its thermal imaging cameras with a Ukrainian analogue. The source notes that the first prototypes of the optics have already been manufactured and are being tested on interceptor drones in combat units. More details about the project are provided in the material.
Seek UAV specializes in thermal imaging systems for unmanned aerial vehicles, in particular FPV drones. The company is already mass-producing modules such as the Seek UAV 256 and 640 for strike platforms: these are compact cameras with thermal imaging matrices, light weight and proprietary software adapted for combat use. Currently, most of the electronic components of these systems, except for matrices, lenses and individual SMD elements, are already developed and manufactured in Ukraine, so the localization of optics logically complements this chain.
The manufacturer’s representative explains that the technology for manufacturing thermal imaging lenses is not something exotic for Ukrainian industry: the process is similar to processing optics for cameras, only the dimensions and material differ. According to him, there are already enterprises in the country that are able to work with such materials on existing equipment, and the technology is currently being tested. Initially, the company plans to replace the optics on one model of a thermal imaging camera for FPV drones, and then gradually transfer the Ukrainian lens to other lines.
In the future, Seek UAV wants to abandon almost all foreign components in its thermal imaging cameras, leaving only imported matrices. They are produced by only a few global players, so launching such production from scratch in Ukraine is not yet considered advisable. Instead, the team is focusing on creating the maximum part of the added value (from electronics to optics and software) within the country.
Localization of optics for thermal imagers fits into a broader trend in the development of the Ukrainian defense industry, where increasing emphasis is placed on components: engines, sensors, communication systems and guidance elements. Combined with Brave1 grant programs that stimulate component manufacturers, the launch of mass production of lenses in 2026 should reduce the risks of import restrictions and make Ukrainian drones less dependent on external suppliers.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, in Ukraine, by decision of the State Central Committee , systematic work is being carried out to collect all possible information about the operation of interceptor drones and their effectiveness.
