ARLINGTON, Va. - Leonardo DRS has received a contract from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center to demonstrate next-generation uncooled thermal infrared (IR) camera cores under the Delivering Unmatched Thermal Capability Hastened (DUTCH) initiative.
DUTCH aims to accelerate the development and transition of high-performance, affordable thermal-imaging technology for defense applications. The initiative emphasizes improving uncooled infrared sensing capabilities while addressing size, weight, power consumption, and cost (SWaP-C) requirements and the need to manufacture these technologies at scale.
Under the contract, Leonardo DRS will demonstrate high-definition, high-frame-rate uncooled thermal camera cores designed to deliver advanced sensitivity, image quality, and responsiveness. Potential applications include uncrewed aerial systems, counter-uncrewed aircraft systems, missile and rocket seekers, weapon sights, night-vision systems, ground-vehicle sensing and targeting, and uncrewed surface vessels.
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Keep it simple
Uncooled thermal imagers detect infrared radiation without cooling the detector to cryogenic temperatures. By avoiding the cooling hardware required by many cooled infrared systems, uncooled designs can reduce system complexity, power requirements, size, and cost. These characteristics can make uncooled sensors suitable for integration into a broad range of military platforms, although performance depends on detector design, optics and operating conditions.
The Army's broader DUTCH effort also addresses integrating next-generation thermal sensors into complete systems. In a March 2026 market-research notice, DEVCOM C5ISR Center sought industry information to inform future system-level requirements and prototype-development efforts incorporating government-furnished, lens-less thermal sensors. The notice described an approach in which system integrators would develop appropriate optics and demonstrate the resulting capabilities in a relevant environment, with a target technology readiness level of 6 or higher.
The market-research notice provides context for the initiative's broader technical objectives, but does not establish that these specific integration requirements or the readiness-level target apply to Leonardo DRS's camera-core demonstration contract.
Standardization aims
The Army is also addressing camera-interface standardization. In an October 2026 request for information, the C5ISR Center sought industry feedback on its Standards Compliant Camera interface-control document, which defines common interfaces for low-light-level, thermal and short-wave infrared cameras. The document covers inter-integrated circuit (I²C) protocols, registers, and environmental and electrical interfaces. The Army says it created and approved the document in March 2019; the current request seeks feedback rather than announcing a new standard or a contract award.
Common camera interfaces can simplify integration and give system developers more flexibility in selecting components from different suppliers. However, interface standardization alone does not eliminate the need to address optics, image processing, software, and platform-specific integration requirements.
Leonardo DRS is one of multiple companies publicly announced as participating in DUTCH. Teledyne FLIR OEM announced its selection in August 2026 to support the initiative through development and demonstration work involving uncooled thermal imaging. The public announcements do not establish the complete supplier roster or the precise division of responsibilities among participating companies.
Leonardo DRS has an established portfolio of uncooled infrared detectors, camera cores and integrated sensing systems. The company says its technology is designed to address SWaP-C requirements across crewed and uncrewed platforms, as well as fixed and mobile installations.
The company also maintains camera assembly and test facilities in Dallas and Melbourne, Fla., and is expanding its supply base for key components. Leonardo DRS says these efforts are intended to strengthen supply-chain continuity and support increased production of infrared sensing equipment.
The value and performance period of the Leonardo DRS contract, along with specific camera specifications, demonstration milestones, and production plans associated with the award, were not disclosed.
