The two HRVIRs for High Resolution Visible and Infrared, are derived from the SPOT 1/2/3 design. The opto-mechanical architecture has again been used (incorporating a telescope, a calibration system and other devices). The main innovation is the addition of a channel in the shortwave infrared spectrum (SWIR - 1.58 to 1.75mm).

Concerning the mechanism itself, asteerable strip-selection mirror for changing the viewing axis increases the satellite's operational performance. It enables repeated observations of the same area at short intervals and acquiring an image of the same area from different perspectives (sometimes to provide stereopairs). Moreover its ability to cover a scene, the basic ground area to be observed, is increased due to the fact that the two instruments generally operate independently. For instance, one instrument acquires an image with the greatest possible viewing angle to the left of the ground track while the others ets its mirror to obtain an image to the right of the ground track.