Teledyne FLIR Defense will begin assembling its Star SAFIRE thermal imaging surveillance systems in the UK after receiving approval to manufacture the systems locally for British defense customers.
Assembly will take place at the company’s facility in West Malling, Kent, marking the first time the airborne surveillance systems will be assembled in the country.
Teledyne FLIR said the move follows more than two years of planning and aligns with the UK Ministry of Defence’s push to expand domestic defense manufacturing and skilled jobs under its Defence Investment Plan.
Star SAFIRE systems are electro-optical and infrared sensor turrets used on military aircraft and helicopters for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, and search-and-rescue missions.
Craig Cooper, director and site lead at Teledyne FLIR Defense UK, said local production reflects increasing demand to strengthen the country’s defense industrial base while supporting broader European manufacturing efforts.
The company also said it is preparing to assemble surveillance systems for other European customers as part of the European Defence Industrial Strategy, which encourages regional production and supply chain resilience.
UK Expands Surveillance Capabilities
Local production of Star SAFIRE systems comes as the UK continues investing in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities across multiple domains.
In May, it introduced Assured Intent Messaging, a digital communications system designed to enable military platforms to share surveillance and targeting data in real time, allowing commanders to coordinate sensors and weapons more effectively across the battlefield.
In March, the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron integrated ANAFI Parrot quadcopters into its operations to strengthen maritime surveillance, intelligence collection, vessel tracking, and force protection around the British Overseas Territory.
Earlier, in February, Thales UK unveiled DigitalCrew, a software-based surveillance system that enhances armored vehicle sensors with automated object detection to improve target tracking while reducing crew workload during prolonged observation missions.
