Defense technology firm Anduril has bought American Infrared Solutions (AIRS) to further develop its infrared sensor portfolio and supply cooled cameras across defense, space, and industrial customers.
Anduril said it will fold AIRS’ cooled infrared cameras and components into its mission systems, expanding the company’s in-house ability to field high-sensitivity thermal imaging across air, ground, sea, and space platforms.
AIRS will continue operating from its New Hampshire facilities and will also sell cooled cameras to other defense and commercial users, giving Anduril direct control of a critical sensor supply line it has relied on for years.
The deal deepens Anduril’s hardware base, pairing its AI and autonomy software with more advanced sensor technology.
Infrared Cameras in Modern Warfare
The acquisition reflects a broader trend in defense modernization, where militaries increasingly depend on infrared and multispectral cameras to detect, track, and engage threats in complex environments. These systems now play a critical role across domains, from airborne surveillance to counter-drone warfare.
The US Army’s Gray Eagle and MQ-9 Reaper drones rely on cooled infrared cameras for long-range reconnaissance and precision strike missions.
Meanwhile, the US Navy uses similar systems in the AN/AAS-44C targeting pod, which provides thermal imagery and laser designation for maritime patrol aircraft.
Cooled infrared sensors are also integrated into counter-unmanned aerial system turrets such as Leonardo DRS’s MX-GCS and Teledyne FLIR’s Boson+ modules, which detect and track small drones at night or through obscurants.
