Detecting the Invisible: SWIR Performance in 2.0µm Laser Detection During Controlled Explosions

What happens when advanced SWIR optics, next-generation sensors, and one of the harshest real-world environments imaginable come together?

You get a powerful look at the future of tactical surveillance and laser detection.

Recently, the Kowa and Emberion teams spent several days at a UK test site with Roland Alford of Alford Technologies, conducting a series of live explosive trials designed to evaluate imaging performance under true operational conditions not controlled lab environments.

Clear Detection of 2.0µm Lasers

High-power 2.0µm fiber lasers are playing an increasingly important role in defense, surveillance, and range-finding applications. Yet reliably detecting these wavelengths especially at long distances and through atmospheric disruption remains a significant technical challenge.

During a controlled detonation, the team successfully detected and tracked a high-power 2.0µm laser source, even under severe post-blast conditions, including:

  • Dense smoke and airborne debris
  • Heat distortion
  • Rapid shifts in light and contrast
  • Immediate environmental occlusion following detonation
  • Despite these extreme variables, the laser signature remained clearly visible and trackable.
  • High-Speed Imaging in Extreme Conditions

The trials also featured high-speed imaging at 400 frames per second, capturing explosive events with exceptional clarity.

Even after detonation when particulate matter and atmospheric turbulence typically degrade image quality, the SWIR platform continued delivering stable, usable imagery. This level of performance highlights the resilience of well-integrated SWIR systems in dynamic, high-impact environments.

Collaboration That Accelerates Innovation

This demonstration was made possible through close collaboration with industry leaders, including:

  • Emberion
  • Futonics
  • Alford Technologies

By combining advanced sensors, precision optics, and real-world testing expertise, the teams demonstrated how integrated SWIR systems can outperform conventional imaging approaches especially where reliability and clarity are mission-critical.

The Optics Behind the Performance

At the core of the system was Kowa’s latest generation of precision-engineered SWIR lenses, purpose-built for long-range detection and multi-band imaging.

Featured Kowa Optics:

LM25HC-VIS-SW
A 25mm wide-angle VIS-SWIR lens delivering outstanding clarity across both visible and SWIR wavelengths, ideal for multi-spectral surveillance applications.

LMZ20750M3P-SW-C
A versatile 20–750mm SWIR zoom lens designed for long-range tactical imaging and target acquisition, offering exceptional flexibility without compromising performance.

These optics provided the transmission efficiency, sharpness, and rugged durability required to maintain visibility through post-explosion obscurants.

Sensor + Optics: Advancing SWIR Detection

Paired with Emberion’s VS20 and VS17 eSWIR cameras, the system demonstrated:

  • Reliable detection of 2.0µm laser wavelengths and beyond
  • Strong imaging performance before, during, and after explosive events
  • Clear validation that SWIR platforms are ready for next-generation operational environments
  • Defining the Future of Tactical Imaging

This testing reinforces a broader industry shift. Next-generation SWIR systems that integrate:

  • Advanced sensor innovation
  • Precision-engineered optics
  • Rugged, real-world performance
  • are expanding what’s possible in:
  • Tactical surveillance
  • Laser range finding
  • Threat detection
  • Advanced battlefield imaging

Kowa is proud to help lead this evolution, delivering optical solutions that enable detection when conditions are at their most demanding.

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