SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
Hyderabad-based Eon Space Labs Pvt Ltd, a rising star in India’s space-defence ecosystem, has unveiled its latest breakthrough—the Buho225, an advanced infrared imager designed for maritime surveillance. Showcased in April 2025, this cutting-edge electro-optical infrared (EO-IR) system promises to redefine coastal and naval operations with its compact design, high-resolution imaging, and robust performance in challenging maritime environments.
As India pushes for self-reliance under the “Make in India” initiative, the Buho225 positions Eon Space Labs as a key player in delivering indigenous solutions for national security. This article explores the capabilities of the Buho225, its strategic significance, and Eon Space Labs’ growing footprint in defence technology.
The Buho225, named after the Spanish word for “owl” to symbolize its keen night-time vision, is a long-wave infrared (LWIR) imager tailored for maritime surveillance. Building on Eon Space Labs’ expertise in optical payloads for satellites, UAVs, and drones, the Buho225 is engineered to deliver high-resolution thermal imaging with a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) profile. According to a post by Eon Space Labs on X on April 12, 2025, the system is designed to enhance situational awareness for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, addressing critical needs like coastal monitoring, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions.
Key features of the Buho225 include:
- High-Resolution Imaging: A 640×480 LWIR sensor with a 12° horizontal field of view (HFOV), delivering detailed thermal signatures even in low-contrast conditions.
- Long-Range Detection: Capable of detecting human-sized targets (1.8m x 0.5m) from 1.5 km, as demonstrated in earlier EO-IR payloads by Eon, making it ideal for identifying threats like small boats or intruders.
- Low Noise Performance: A Noise Equivalent Differential Temperature (NEDT) of <50mK ensures clarity in challenging environments, such as fog or high humidity typical of India’s coastal regions.
- Compact Design: Optimized for integration on drones, UAVs, and naval platforms, its lightweight build aligns with the Indian Navy’s need for versatile, deployable systems.
- Maritime Durability: Anti-corrosion coatings and ruggedized optics ensure reliability in saline, high-moisture conditions, addressing concerns like composite degradation seen in programs like Naval-AMCA.
These capabilities make the Buho225 a versatile tool for maritime domain awareness, complementing India’s efforts to secure its 7,500-km coastline and strategic waters in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Founded in 2022 by engineers Punit Badeka, Manoj Kumar Gaddam, and Sanjay Kumar, Eon Space Labs has rapidly emerged as a leader in indigenous optical technologies. Headquartered in Hyderabad’s tech hub, the startup specializes in earth observation payloads, with a focus on “Make in India” solutions???. Their portfolio includes innovative products like the EON IR NAGA LWIR camera and a monolithic lens showcased at the Indian Navy’s Swavlamban 2023 seminar, which offered high magnification with minimal weight. Eon’s prior work includes thermal sights, riflescopes, and telescopic imaging systems for defence applications, reflecting a deep expertise in ultra-precision optics.
Eon’s commitment to innovation has earned recognition, including investment commitments at IIT-Bombay’s TIPS 4.0 workshop in 2024, highlighting its potential in defence and surveillance. The Buho225 builds on this legacy, leveraging lessons from earlier EO-IR payloads that detected human movement from 1.5 km at a 78-degree angle, a feat that underscored India’s growing prowess in remote sensing.
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