Forward Looking Infrared

Forward Looking Infrared ( FLIR ) ( German about anticipatory infrared device or forwards directed infrared device ) is an imaging method that detects infrared radiation turns into the vehicle or missile axis, evaluate and, if so, prepare for the users. Occasionally, general thermal imaging cameras or their images are called FLIR.

FLIR is often used since the early 1960s, along with weapons systems at low-level attack aircraft and attack helicopters to be operational in nearly all viewing conditions, as well as to discover sources of heat.

Today's modern FLIR are equipped with various uncooled and cooled detector systems. These give two-dimensional thermal images again in wavelength ranges 2-14 microns. Therefore, they are in official use areas ideal for pedestrian and vehicle detection. You can also find on other areas such as industrial and building thermography application.

Many police helicopters are also equipped with FLIR. The transport helicopter of the Swiss army (SA 332 Super Puma / Cougar ) are also equipped with FLIR and also take part in civil SAR missions, like finding avalanche victims and missing persons, with quite a few successes have been achieved.

Even homing missiles have infrared image sensors and image analysis to distinguish the flying target of flares.

Furthermore, there is the following method: