Vexcel Imaging Unveils the UltraCam Dragon 4.2: A New Benchmark in Hybrid Oblique Imaging and LiDAR

Building on the success of its predecessor, the new system features a significantly larger nadir and oblique image footprint, delivering a performance boost with 35% more flight line efficiency for faster data collection. Its powerful sensor suite combines two nadir cameras (RGB and NIR) and four high-resolution oblique RGB cameras (19,136 x 12,736 pixels each), with a 2.4 MHz RIEGL Waveform LiDAR scanner, delivering unmatched productivity, precision, and comprehensive ground coverage.

Vexcel Imaging leads the way as the first aerial system manufacturer to adopt Sony’s cutting-edge IMX811 CMOS sensors, featuring 247 megapixels and a 2.81 µm pixel size, across its system lineup. In 2025 alone, the company unveiled three new systems: the UltraCam Osprey 4.2 in spring and the UltraCam Dragon 4.2 and UltraCam Merlin 5.0 at Intergeo, marking a notable expansion of its portfolio within a single year. This rapid sensor integration was made possible through Vexcel’s proprietary lens design and the sophisticated True Pixel Processing (TPP) pipeline within UltraMap, ensuring the UltraCam systems continue to deliver the industry-leading image quality they are renowned for.