Noctis™ Series · 03 of 06

VANTAGE

SWIR Motorised Zoom Lens — 450mm

"Short-wave infrared. Long focal length. Sees through what visible light cannot."

450

mm Focal Length

Long-range standoff imaging

SWIR

900–1700 nm

Short-wave infrared waveband

Low

F-Number

High light-gathering efficiency

ECU

Integrated

Lens + camera + control unit

View Technical Specs

View Technical Specs ↓

System Overview

VANTAGE is a short-wave infrared motorised zoom lens system engineered for long-range surveillance and target identification in conditions where visible-band optics fail. Operating in the SWIR waveband (900–1700 nm), the system maintains high image clarity in low-light, haze, smoke, light fog and adverse weather — without requiring active illumination. The 450mm focal length delivers the standoff imaging range needed for perimeter, border and critical infrastructure surveillance from safe operational distances.

The low F-number optical design maximises the amount of SWIR radiation gathered at the sensor, ensuring superior sensitivity at the limits of visibility where competing systems saturate or lose contrast. High MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) values across the zoom range mean that spatial resolution is maintained at every focal setting — targets remain identifiable at range, not just detectable.

VANTAGE integrates lens, camera and Electronic Control Unit (ECU) into a single operational system. The motorised zoom mechanism allows the operator to transition from wide area search to close target identification without any physical adjustment to the lens — all controlled remotely through the integrated GUI or external command interface. The sun shield and vibration damper protect optical performance in the field. A second variant, the VANTAGE-M (180mm), offers a more compact configuration for platform-constrained installations requiring mid-range coverage.

ISO 9001:2015

SWIR — 900 to 1700 nm

450mm Focal Length

Motorised Zoom

Low F-Number Optics

High MTF

Integrated ECU

Sun Shield

Vibration Damper

GUI Compatible

Imaging Capability

What VANTAGE Sees — and When

SWIR wavelengths cut through haze, light fog and atmospheric scatter that defeat visible-band surveillance. At 450mm focal length, VANTAGE delivers identification-grade imagery at distances where standard EO systems can only detect a presence — and continues to operate effectively when ambient visible light falls below usable levels.

VANTAGE 450mm SWIR lens — long-range identification imagery through haze and low light

SWIR 900–1700nm

Motorised Zoom

Haze Penetration

Technical Specifications

Engineering Data

Download Datasheet (PDF)

Parameter

Specification

Waveband

SWIR — 900 to 1700 nmShort-Wave Infrared

Focal Length

450mm — primary long-range variant450mm

Aperture

Low F-number — maximises SWIR radiation gathered at sensor for superior low-light sensitivity

Resolution

High MTF across full zoom range — spatial resolution maintained at all focal lengths

Image Quality

Exceptional imaging clarity across all distances — maintains contrast and detail in poor visibility conditions

Passive Operation

No active SWIR illuminator required — ambient SWIR energy from sun, moon, starlight and artificial sources is sufficient

Parameter

Specification

Zoom Type

Motorised continuous zoom — remote operation, no manual lens adjustmentMotorised

Zoom Control

Integrated Electronic Control Unit (ECU) — smooth, precise zoom positioning via GUI or external command

Focus

Motorised autofocus — maintains focus across full zoom range without operator intervention

Iris

Motorised iris — remotely adjustable aperture to optimise exposure for changing light conditions

GUI Integration

Compatible with advanced user interface — all lens functions controllable from operator workstation

Parameter

Specification

Sun Shield

Integrated sun shield — protects optical elements from direct solar illumination and associated thermal drift

Vibration Damper

Integrated vibration damper — decouples optical assembly from platform-induced vibration, preserving image stability at long focal lengths

Mounting Interface

Durable mounting interface — compatible with standard pan-tilt units, vehicle masts and fixed installation brackets

Construction

Compact and modular design — ruggedised for field deployment in defence and border surveillance installations

Quality Standard

ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacture

Parameter

Specification

System Integration

Lens, camera and ECU integrated — single unit delivery, reduced installation complexity

Control Interface

Compatible with advanced GUI — all zoom, focus, iris and system functions accessible from operator station

Camera Compatibility

Designed for integration with InGaAs SWIR camera sensors — compatible with standard SWIR imaging modules

Second Variant

VANTAGE-M — 180mm focal length, 9x optical zoom; compact configuration for platform-constrained mid-range surveillanceAlso Available

Product Variants

Two Focal Lengths.
One System Architecture.

VANTAGE is available in two configurations — the 450mm primary variant for long-range standoff surveillance, and the VANTAGE-M 180mm compact variant for platform-constrained installations requiring shorter to mid-range coverage.

450mm

VANTAGE — Primary Long-Range Variant

450mm focal length — identification-grade imagery at maximum standoff distances

Low F-number optics — superior SWIR light-gathering for low-ambient conditions

High MTF across full zoom range — maintained resolution at every focal setting

Integrated sun shield and vibration damper — field-ready from installation

Integrated ECU — all functions remotely operable, no on-site adjustment

Motorised Zoom

180mm

VANTAGE-M — Compact Mid-Range Variant

180mm focal length — mid-range surveillance with compact form factor

9x optical zoom — wide search to close identification without lens change

High performance in low-visibility — SWIR haze and fog penetration maintained

Integrated control unit — same operational architecture as 450mm variant

Optimised for platform-constrained installations — UAV, vehicle and handheld mounts

9× Optical Zoom

VANTAGE SWIR waveband — atmospheric penetration and passive night imaging

900– 1700nm

SWIRPassive

Step 01 · SWIR Physics

Haze. Smoke.
Low Light.
SWIR Cuts Through.

Short-wave infrared wavelengths (900–1700 nm) behave fundamentally differently to visible light in the atmosphere. Particles responsible for haze, smoke and light fog scatter shorter wavelengths aggressively — but SWIR passes through with significantly less attenuation. The result is contrast and detail at range in conditions that reduce visible-band cameras to near-useless imagery.

The SWIR Advantage

↗

SWIR wavelengths experience less Rayleigh and Mie scattering than visible light — contrast is preserved through haze, smoke and light fog that defeat visible cameras.

◎

Many materials — glass, plastics, vegetation — have distinct SWIR reflectance signatures that make them easier to identify or distinguish at range than in the visible band.

∞

SWIR imaging is passive at night — ambient SWIR energy from moonlight, starlight and artificial sources is sufficient for effective imaging without any active illuminator.

900–1700nm SWIR — atmospheric haze and smoke penetration

Passive night imaging — no active illuminator required

Superior material contrast vs visible-band EO at range

450mm

MotorZoom

Step 02 · Long-Range Optics

450mm.
Low F-Number.
Identify at Standoff.

The 450mm focal length provides the angular resolution required to positively identify targets at the standoff distances demanded by perimeter, border and critical infrastructure surveillance. The low F-number optical design maximises the SWIR energy gathered at the InGaAs sensor — sustaining image quality as ambient light falls and atmospheric attenuation increases. High MTF values maintained across the zoom range ensure that spatial detail is preserved at all focal settings.

450mm focal length — identification range at operational standoff distances

Low F-number — maximum SWIR sensitivity at the sensor

High MTF — resolution maintained across full zoom range

Compact modular design — compatible with pan-tilt, vehicle and fixed mast installations

VANTAGE integrated ECU and motorised control — remote lens operation

ECUIntegrated

GUIRemote Control

Step 03 · Integrated Control

Lens. Camera.
Control Unit.
One System.

VANTAGE integrates the lens optical assembly, SWIR camera and Electronic Control Unit into a single delivered system. The motorised zoom, focus and iris are all remotely operated through the ECU — no physical access to the lens is required during operation. The integrated GUI interface allows the operator to manage all lens functions from the ground station or command post, including zoom positioning, iris adjustment and focus control.

Field Protection Features

Sun shield protects the optical front element from direct solar illumination, which can cause image saturation and accelerate thermal drift in SWIR optics.

Vibration damper decouples the optical assembly from platform vibration — critical for a 450mm focal length system where small angular movements translate to large image displacements.

Durable mounting interface compatible with standard pan-tilt units, vehicle-mounted masts, fixed pedestal installations and portable tripod systems.

Integrated ECU — full remote control, no on-site lens adjustment

Sun shield — protects optics from solar saturation and thermal drift

Vibration damper — image stability at 450mm focal length

Capability Comparison

SWIR vs. Visible-Band EO — Why Waveband Determines Operational Range

At long range and in degraded visibility, the choice of imaging waveband determines whether surveillance is operationally useful or not. VANTAGE's SWIR capability delivers where visible and NIR systems reach their limit.

VANTAGE — SWIR 900–1700nm

Haze, smoke and light fog penetration — maintains contrast where visible cameras lose image entirely
Passive night operation — ambient SWIR from moon and stars provides sufficient energy
450mm focal length — identification-grade resolution at long standoff distances
High MTF across zoom range — spatial detail preserved at all focal settings
Superior material discrimination — glass, plastics and coatings show distinct SWIR signatures
Motorised zoom — wide search to close identification without leaving operator station
Requires InGaAs sensor — higher cost than silicon-based visible/NIR sensors

Standard Visible-Band EO Lens

Full colour imagery in clear daylight conditions
Performance degrades at dusk and in overcast conditions
Haze and smoke severely attenuate contrast — usable range drops significantly
Requires active illuminator for night operation — active IR signature detectable
Cannot exploit ambient SWIR energy present at night
Limited material discrimination — glass and certain coatings appear transparent or identical
Lower atmospheric penetration at long range in adverse conditions

Deployment

Where VANTAGE Operates

Long-range SWIR zoom imaging is required wherever surveillance must be maintained beyond the range of standard EO systems, or where atmospheric conditions — haze, smoke, light fog — routinely degrade visible-band performance.

Border & Coastal Surveillance

Long-range identification of vehicles, vessels and personnel at border crossings and coastal approaches — in haze, fog and during dusk and dawn periods where visible-band systems lose effectiveness.

Long standoff imagingAdverse weather operation

Force Protection & Perimeter Security

Extended-range perimeter surveillance covering ground approaches that lie beyond the effective range of shorter-focal-length EO systems — with passive night capability removing the need for active illuminators.

Extended range perimeterPassive night operation

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Surveillance of energy, transport and communications infrastructure where long standoff distances are required — monitoring approaches to sensitive sites from beyond the perimeter fence line.

Long standoff monitoring24-hour passive operation

Vehicle & Vessel Identification

Long-range SWIR imaging for vehicle and vessel classification at customs, port and border installations — delivering identification-grade imagery at distances and in conditions that defeat standard EO systems.

Vehicle identification at rangeVessel classification

VANTAGE

What VANTAGE Sees — and When

Engineering Data

Two Focal Lengths.
One System Architecture.

How VANTAGE Sees Through
What Others Cannot

Haze. Smoke.
Low Light.
SWIR Cuts Through.

450mm.
Low F-Number.
Identify at Standoff.

Lens. Camera.
Control Unit.
One System.

SWIR vs. Visible-Band EO — Why Waveband Determines Operational Range

Where VANTAGE Operates

Border & Coastal Surveillance

Force Protection & Perimeter Security

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Vehicle & Vessel Identification

Long-Range SWIR Imaging.
Through Every Condition.

Vision ATK Assistant

VANTAGE

What VANTAGE Sees — and When

Engineering Data

Two Focal Lengths.One System Architecture.

How VANTAGE Sees ThroughWhat Others Cannot

Haze. Smoke.Low Light.SWIR Cuts Through.

450mm.Low F-Number.Identify at Standoff.

Lens. Camera.Control Unit.One System.

SWIR vs. Visible-Band EO — Why Waveband Determines Operational Range

Where VANTAGE Operates

Border & Coastal Surveillance

Force Protection & Perimeter Security

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Vehicle & Vessel Identification

Other Systems in the Series

Long-Range SWIR Imaging.Through Every Condition.

Vision ATK Assistant

Two Focal Lengths.
One System Architecture.

How VANTAGE Sees Through
What Others Cannot

Haze. Smoke.
Low Light.
SWIR Cuts Through.

450mm.
Low F-Number.
Identify at Standoff.

Lens. Camera.
Control Unit.
One System.

Long-Range SWIR Imaging.
Through Every Condition.