1. A sensor unit comprising: (a) detector means including an infra-red focal plane array for capturing images of interest; (b) an electro-optics module having means for focusing said images of interest onto said detector means, means for controlling said detector means, an array of multiple distributed processors, and means for generating a respective one set of video signals from each of at least selected images captured by said detector means and for transmitting each set of signals to at least a plurality of the distributed processors; and (c) a remote electronics module for conditioning and transforming said video signals from said electro-optics module into a form suitable for digital signal processing, said remote electronics module is connected to said electro-optics module via an interface module contained within said electro-optics module; and wherein the sensor unit further includes i) an array of multiple distributed processors, and ii) signal circuitry for generating a respective set of signals representing each of at least selected ones of said images, and for transmitting each set of signals to at least a plurality of the distributed processors.