Exosens triples thermal camera production capacity, driven by counter-drone operations

Counter-drone operations drive thermal camera production

According to Orange Actualités, Exosens significantly increased its infrared camera manufacturing capacity in 2026. According to its chief executive officer, Jérôme Cerisier, capacity has been doubled for cooled models. For uncooled models, it has been tripled. The executive links this increase to the growth of counter-drone operations: "Three years ago, this market did not exist".

Part of this production is assembled by Noxant, on the Saclay plateau. Acquired in 2025, this thermal imaging specialist is among a dozen companies acquired by Exosens in recent years. It now manufactures several hundred units per year.

A chip maintained at -200 °C allows these devices to see up to 35 km, according to Emmanuel Vanneau, co-founder of Noxant. Their price can reach 100,000 euros, twenty times that of a standard model.

Defense accounts for 75% of revenue, 2026 targets raised

Defense represents 75% of Exosens' revenue, according to Orange Actualités. The group recently raised its targets for 2026. It now aims for between 558 and 570 million euros in revenue, nearly 20% growth year-over-year. The targeted profitability stands between 33 and 34%.

Nuclear energy, which accounts for 4% of sales, constitutes another growth driver. In the United States, the company is supporting transportable microreactor projects conducted as part of a Department of Energy (DOE) program. Its neutron probes were used in tests by start-ups Antares Nuclear and Valar Atomics.

In a press release published on October 8, 2026, Exosens specified that these two designers had led the two first models to achieve criticality as part of the Reactor Pilot Program.