Abstract: To compress their total length, infrared thermal imagers commonly have a double-reflector folded layout (U-shaped) and a box-shaped shell. Existing transmission instruments can only measure the modulation transfer function (MTF) of optical systems with a non-folded (straight) layout owing to the inability of the transmission instrument to receive the image plane of U-shaped optical systems. To solve this problem, this study used the pupil connection method and designed and processed a relay lens group to direct the image plane of the U-shaped optical system. The MTF of the U-shaped optical system was calculated by measuring the MTF of the combined system, thereby solving the MTF measurement problem. Six infrared thermal imagers of the same model were used to verify the measurement method. After eliminating the interference factors affecting the measurements, the MTF of the U-shaped optical system was calculated by measuring the MTF of the combined system. During measurement, the the U-shaped optical system MTF of infrared thermal imagers 5 and 6 decreased significantly. Using an infrared center-deviation measuring instrument, it was found that the center deviations of the third and fourth lenses were relatively large. Therefore, they were reinstalled and controlled, resulting in a significant improvement in the MTF of the U-shaped optical system. This method provides a new approach for MTF measurement and performance improvement in U-shaped optical systems.