Engineering challenges in defense and security
Optical systems used in defense are among the most demanding in the world — they must operate reliably in extreme environmental conditions, against strong background light, and with the highest possible precision. Thermal imaging systems, laser sights, rangefinders, surveillance cameras, and night-vision devices must go through a rigorous design and verification process before they reach the field.
Stray light analysis is critical for every optical instrument used in defense systems — unwanted scattering of sunlight, moonlight, or lamp light can blind a detector and cause loss of target. TracePro and OSLO have long been the standard tools in this field, used by both equipment manufacturers and government institutions worldwide.
In parallel, secure communication links based on FSO (Free Space Optical) technology and fiber-optic networks require precise system-level simulations — OptiSystem is the tool for designing and verifying such links.
How does our software support design?
| Product | Role in this area |
|---|---|
 | Stray light analysis in military instruments, thermal imaging, surveillance cameras, LIDAR systems |
 | Designing sight optics, collimating systems, thermal imaging objectives |
 | Secure FSO links, military Satcom systems, inter-platform laser communication |
stray light analysis in a thermal imaging system
Design assumptions
A thermal imaging system operating in the MWIR band (3–5 μm) requires high resistance to stray radiation in order to maintain proper image contrast and detector sensitivity. Special attention is given to limiting the impact of external radiation sources such as the sun, hot objects in the surroundings, and background radiation.
Optical system model
The full geometry of the optical path was represented in the simulation environment, including lenses, the housing tube, internal baffles, and absorbing surfaces with defined emissive and reflective properties. Ray propagation was analyzed for various angles of incidence of stray radiation, ranging from 0° to 45° relative to the optical axis.
Identifying stray light sources
The simulation revealed areas responsible for unwanted reflections and multiple ray propagation inside the tube. A detailed analysis of ray paths made it possible to locate the sources of optical leaks and identify elements requiring further optimization.
Baffle and shield optimization
Changes were made to the geometry of the internal baffles, the shape of the edges, and the absorbing surfaces. The modifications reduced the number of multiple reflections and decreased the amount of stray radiation reaching the detector.
Design verification
After optimization, the required level of stray light suppression was achieved, improving the system's interference resistance by about 35 dB and meeting the target PST (Point Source Transmittance) level below −60 dB. The design was verified through simulation before performing costly hardware tests.
Frequently asked questions
Defense and security
Does TracePro support stray light analysis in the IR range (MWIR, LWIR)?
Yes. TracePro supports simulations across a wide spectral range, including MWIR (3-5 μm) and LWIR (8-12 μm), accounting for the properties of optical materials and coatings for the infrared range.
Can the software be exported? Are there ITAR/EAR restrictions?
TracePro and OSLO are commercial products distributed under standard export rules. Lambda Research Corporation has experience serving customers in the defense industry. Our engineer will discuss export compliance details with you.
Does OSLO support optical design for systems operating at extreme temperatures?
Yes. OSLO Premium supports athermal analysis — accounting for changes in focal length and aberrations as a function of temperature, which is essential for military optics operating from -40°C to +70°C.
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