This paper describes a modern electro-optical payload system for remote sensing from aeronautical platforms that is being developed at the Department of Space Science and Engineering of the University of Naples Federico II. It is aimed at applications of natural disasters monitoring, in particular forest fires, in missions of compact platforms, also Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. These activities are being carried out within concurrent, coordinated projects that are contributing to different sections of the system. Here the selected sensors are described along with on-board subsystems dedicated to payload operation and control, activities in progress, and test campaigns being prepared.