Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has announced the POP 1000, a compact, multi-sensor electro-optical payload designed for long-range intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. Announced on 9 October, the system is being presented for the first time at the AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition 2026 in Washington. Its 12-inch configuration addresses size, weight and power constraints, supporting integration on airborne, maritime and land platforms where payload dimensions and weight are important considerations.

The POP 1000 combines high-definition daylight imaging, medium-wave infrared (MWIR) thermal imaging and short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensors with an eye-safe laser rangefinder and a laser designator. This sensor combination is intended to support detection, identification, tracking and target designation during daylight, at night and in challenging visibility conditions. Automatic video tracking and advanced image processing complement a four-axis stabilisation system designed to maintain a stable line of sight as the carrying platform moves.

An integrated inertial navigation system (INS) supports accurate geo-referencing, while picture-in-picture functionality allows operators to view complementary imagery simultaneously. According to IAI, the payload can also incorporate artificial intelligence capabilities to support mission execution, although the announcement did not specify the functions involved. The company has not provided numerical detection or identification ranges, payload weight or power consumption figures in the announcement.

The new payload expands IAI’s existing POP family, which the company says is used by dozens of customers worldwide. IAI President and CEO Guy Bar Lev linked its development to operational experience gained from thousands of deployed POP systems and the growing requirement to fit advanced sensing capabilities into smaller configurations. “The POP 1000 represents the continued evolution of IAI’s electro-optical capabilities, bringing advanced sensing and mission capabilities into a compact system that provides customers with greater operational flexibility. Building on the experience of more than thousands of POP systems deployed worldwide, we continue to adapt proven technologies to meet changing operational needs.”

The POP 1000 builds on that established architecture, extending the product family’s options for platforms requiring a compact system for surveillance, tracking and target designation.