Ukraine to Localize Production of Lenses for Drone Thermal-Imaging Cameras in 2026

They are working in Ukraine to localize lens production for thermal-imaging cameras used in strike drones. The production is expected to begin in 2026.

A Seek UAV representative shared this with a Militarnyi correspondent at the Brave1 Components event.

Seek UAV is a Ukrainian company that develops and improves thermal-imaging systems for unmanned aerial vehicles, including FPV drones.

The company representative said they are working to replace the Chinese-made lens with a domestically produced one in the thermal-imaging cameras they supply.

According to him, prototypes have already been manufactured and are currently being tested for interceptor drones.

“In fact, we examined the technology — it doesn’t differ much from processing regular optical lenses for cameras. The size is simply smaller, the material is a bit different, but it can be made using the same equipment,” the Seek UAV representative noted.

According to him, there are companies in Ukraine capable of doing this, and the process is already underway.

First, the manufacturer plans to replace the lens in one model of its thermal-imaging camera for FPV drones next year, and later in other models as well.

In the future, Seek UAV is considering replacing almost all foreign components in its cameras, except for the sensors themselves, which are produced by only a few companies worldwide, making it impractical to invest in their domestic production.