Lab 308

What Lab 308 does

Lab 308, LLC is a privately-held aerospace imaging company headquartered in Hood River, Oregon, that designs and manufactures infrared (IR) camera systems for aerial firefighting applications. The company's product portfolio consists of two core hardware lines and a services offering. The Smart Pilot Cam (SPC) is a pilot-operated IR camera providing low-latency 720p HD-SDI video with MISB KLV metadata, onboard GPS/INS integration, and real-time fire sizing estimates. The Longwave Spatial Image Reconstruction (LSIR) system is a modular multi-camera array that delivers zero-operator IR mapping and automatic fire sizing every two minutes after aircraft orbit. Both products share advanced infrared cores with thermal resolution of ±3.5°F (SPC) and ±5°F (LSIR), IP67 environmental sealing, self-calibrating GPS/INS, and an aviation-ready form factor. The third offering is a Custom Product Development service covering sensor integration, ruggedized housing, real-time image processing, and custom GUI development for aerospace applications.

The company targets two primary customer segments: government firefighting agencies and the aerial firefighting aircraft operators that contract for them, in markets including the US Pacific Northwest, New Zealand (Hawkes Bay), Australia, and the UK. Revenue is generated through outright hardware purchases, fixed-term leases (3-month, 6-month, and annual), and custom engineering services. Pricing for LSIR ranges from $19,950 for a 1-camera array to $52,850 for a 3-camera array, with corresponding annual leases of $7,000 and $17,500; the SPC is priced at $39,800 outright or leased at $2,366-$2,840 per month. Distribution is primarily direct via website inquiry and email, supplemented by a technology integration partnership with Tabula announced in May 2026, which embeds Lab 308's IR sensors into Tabula's FireVision connected firefighting platform for streaming to cockpit tablets and command centers. The company operates with 1-10 employees, has no disclosed institutional funding, and was founded by two engineers with combined hardware and software expertise.

Name

Lab 308

Legal name

Lab 308, LLC

Website

https://lab-308.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lab 308, LLC designs and sells infrared camera systems for aerial firefighting aircraft, serving government fire agencies and contracted firefighting operators in the US, New Zealand, Australia, and the UK through direct sales, leases, and custom engineering services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerial Firefighting Infrared Imaging Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

Keywords

• Aerial fire imaging
• Infrared camera systems
• Wildfire detection equipment
• Thermal mapping cameras
• Aerial firefighting hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Hood River

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Camera Hardware Sales: Outright purchase of IR camera systems (Smart Pilot Cam and LSIR modules) for aerial firefighting platforms. One-time hardware sales with optional customization for specific aircraft.
2. Equipment Leasing: Fixed-term lease arrangements for camera systems, offering 3-month, 6-month, and annual lease options to accommodate seasonal firefighting needs.
3. Custom Product Development Services: End-to-end custom product development for hardware and software projects, transforming complex requirements into flight-ready solutions. Includes sensor integration, ruggedized housing, and turnkey system development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Lab 308 designs, manufactures, and sells infrared (IR) imaging hardware systems for aerial firefighting aircraft, including the Smart Pilot Cam (SPC) cockpit-mounted camera and the LSIR modular multi-camera mapping array. The systems provide real-time thermal intelligence, fire sizing estimates, and smoke/haze/darkness penetration for wildfire suppression operations. The company also offers end-to-end custom product development for specialized aerial imaging integrations.

Product overview

Lab 308 offers a portfolio of infrared imaging products for aerial firefighting applications, consisting of two core hardware systems and a custom development service. The Smart Pilot Cam (SPC) is a pilot-operated thermal camera providing real-time cockpit video and onboard fire mapping for individual aircraft. The Longwave Spatial Image Reconstruction (LSIR) is a modular multi-camera array system that converts any firefighting aircraft into a comprehensive intel platform with zero-operator mapping. Both products share advanced infrared cores, GPS/INS integration, and IP67 environmental sealing. Custom Product Development services extend the portfolio by offering bespoke hardware and software solutions for specialized aerial imaging needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LSIR: Longwave Spatial Image Reconstruction - Modular fixed camera modules providing smoke-penetrating IR imaging and automatic fire sizing estimates for air attack platforms.
• Smart Pilot Cam (SPC)

Products and services

• Smart Pilot Cam (SPC) Pilot-operated infrared camera system providing real-time cockpit video and HD thermal imaging for aerial firefighting aircraft. Features low-latency 720p HD-SDI video output, MISB KLV metadata, integrated GPS/INS, radiometric calibrated color thresholding, and onboard GIS-level fire map generation without requiring specialized flight patterns.
• Longwave Spatial Image Reconstruction (LSIR) Modular IR mapping system of distributed camera modules that transforms any firefighting aircraft into an intel platform. Provides zero-operator real-time mapping with live instantaneous thermal views, automatic fire sizing estimates every 2 minutes after orbit, ±5°F thermal resolution, IP67 environmental sealing, and cloud processing at demonstrated $1/hour cost.
• Custom Product Development End-to-end custom product development service bridging advanced imaging with rugged aerial deployment. Covers sensor integration, ruggedized housing, turnkey system development, real-time image processing, IR mapping, and custom GUI development tailored to specific aerospace platform constraints.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fire sizing estimates automatically produced every 2 minutes after aircraft orbit
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• TabulacoreTechnology or Integration · 8 May 2026Tabula has partnered with Lab 308 to integrate its new generation infrared sensor technology and real-time imaging capability into FireVision by Tabula to support aerial firefighting operations globally. The integration combines Lab 308's compact, high-quality infrared camera systems with FireVision's connected operational platform - streaming thermal imagery in real time directly to Tabula's AirVision Tablet in the cockpit and the FireVision Command Centre. Thermal imagery can be viewed across the FireVision platform from anywhere in the world, giving crews in the air and teams in operations centres a clearer, shared view of the fireground.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Teledyne FLIR: Teledyne FLIR is a leading global manufacturer of thermal imaging cameras and infrared sensors used across defense, public safety, industrial, and aerial platforms. It is the most direct large-scale analog to Lab 308's EO/IR camera business, competing in the same thermal core and aerial payload category, but with a much broader portfolio, established aerospace qualifications, and incumbent relationships with firefighting and defense agencies.
• BAE Systems: BAE Systems produces electronic systems, sensor payloads, and avionics for military and commercial aircraft, including EO/IR and surveillance technologies. Comparable to Lab 308 as a large aerospace and defense integrator of sensor and electronic systems for aerial platforms, with a much broader program base.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris designs and manufactures advanced electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems, imaging payloads, and avionics for manned and unmanned aircraft across defense, intelligence, and surveillance missions. It is comparable to Lab 308 as a supplier of aerial EO/IR sensor systems, though at far greater scale and with broader defense platform integration.
• Leonardo DRS: Leonardo DRS manufactures advanced EO/IR sensors, thermal imaging modules, and integrated electronics for military and aerospace platforms. It is comparable to Lab 308 as a developer of ruggedized infrared imaging hardware for aircraft and special-mission applications, though with a much wider defense product portfolio.
• Elbit Systems: Elbit Systems produces EO/IR payloads, thermal imaging systems, and avionics for airborne platforms including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and UAS. It is a direct comparator for Lab 308's aerial IR camera and sensor-integration offering, especially in the ISR and special-mission segments, while operating globally with full defense qualifications.
• Honeywell Aerospace: Honeywell Aerospace supplies avionics, flight control, and mission systems for commercial, business, and military aircraft, with adjacent sensor and imaging capabilities. It is comparable to Lab 308 as a Tier 1 supplier of aviation-grade electronics and integrated mission systems, but with much larger scale and broader platform coverage.
• Collins Aerospace (RTX): Collins Aerospace produces avionics, flight management systems, and sensor payloads (including IR detectors via legacy Sensors Unlimited) for commercial and military aircraft. It is comparable to Lab 308 in the airborne electronics and EO/IR sensor space, though as part of a much broader aerospace systems portfolio.

Others

• Thales Group: Thales designs aerospace electronics, optronic systems, and IR sensors used in fixed-wing and rotary aircraft for defense, surveillance, and security missions. It is comparable to Lab 308 as a supplier of aerial EO/IR sensor systems and cockpit electronics, with deep qualifications and global reach.

Emerging players

• Dryad Networks: Dryad Networks provides early-stage wildfire detection via distributed IoT sensors and AI analytics deployed in forests for utilities and public agencies. It is comparable to Lab 308 as a tech-driven wildfire detection vendor, but operates with a fundamentally different, ground-based sensor approach and serves a broader environmental monitoring customer base.
• Pano AI: Pano AI is an emerging wildfire intelligence company that combines ground-based cameras, AI, and satellite data to provide fire detection and situational awareness to utilities, fire agencies, and forestry organizations. It is comparable to Lab 308 as a wildfire intelligence player serving fire agencies, though Pano AI's primary sensing modality is fixed terrestrial cameras and analytics rather than airborne IR payloads.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lab 308