Overblog
Suivre ce blog Administration + Créer mon blog
18 septembre 2013 3 18 /09 /septembre /2013 12:50
Thales offers new vision of targeting and surveillance with SOPHIE Lite

10 September 2013 Thales UK

 

Thales UK today launched a new lightweight multifunction surveillance and target locator system, SOPHIE Lite. Weighing in at class-leading, fully-operational weight of only 1.6kg, SOPHIE Lite can be deployed in a variety of operational scenarios by both military and civil users.

The new ultra-compact system has a fully-integrated suite of sensors, including an uncooled thermal imager, TV/Near Infra-Red (NIR) sensor, high-performance eyesafe laser rangefinder, digital compass and GPS.  Operational roles for SOPHIE Lite include force protection, forward observation, forward air control, covert surveillance, asset protection and homeland security.

SOPHIE Lite is the latest addition to Thales’s family of combat-proven SOPHIE cameras, which collectively offer the widest range of capabilities to meet any operational requirement for hand-held surveillance and targeting.  Thousands of Sophie cameras are in operation with armed forces, including the British Army, and security teams around the world.

“Since the launch of SOPHIE UF in 2009, Thales has worked continually to evolve the product in line with customer needs, reducing the weight from 3.5kg then to 1.6kg today,” said Gil Michielin, Vice President of Thales’s optronics business.

"To reduce the weight by nearly 2kg, without compromising even 1 per cent of the performance, is a significant achievement and of enormous value to the soldiers and security personnel who carry the camera as part of their standard kit.

“SOPHIE Lite is light, small and affordable. Switching from standard optical to digital technologies has reduced the weight and enhanced the image delivered to the user. We believe that the combination of functionality and specification will extend the appeal of SOPHIE Lite to a broader user base, including security teams and mobile perimeter guards; SOPHIE Lite is small enough to fit in the glove compartment of even a standard saloon car, for instance.

“This is an exciting evolution of our popular SOPHIE offering. We have paid serious attention to feedback from our customers, and indeed potential customers, to ensure that SOPHIE Lite hits the mark with its performance, functionality and ease of use.”

Partager cet article
Repost0
26 février 2013 2 26 /02 /février /2013 16:50

Sophie-XF.jpg

 

Feb 26, 2013 ASDNews Source : Thales Group

 

The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has awarded Thales the contract for the manufacture and supply of ten sets of Sophie XF Type long-range cooled thermal imagers. The order also extends to logistical support, documentation and training. The agreed delivery date is for the autumn of 2013. Sophie XF is designed to complement around 100 previous systems used by the German Armed Forces.

 

Sophie XF is a hand-held, multi-functional thermal imaging device with laser range finder, daylight camera and position sensor (GPS receiver and digital compass). The continuous optical zoom makes the high optical performance capability very easy to utilise. The German Armed Forces will use this long-range imager for surveillance, target acquisition and identification and determining the coordinates of these targets at night and in adverse visibility conditions. What makes Sophie XF distinctive is its multitude of measurement and recording options, low-weight, longer-life batteries and reduced noise generation. "We are delighted with this follow-up procurement order, which will provide the user with an innovative, user-friendly device with a wide range of applications", said Holger Brandt, Vice President Defence & Security Systems Thales Deutschland, commenting on the contract.

Partager cet article
Repost0
11 juillet 2012 3 11 /07 /juillet /2012 09:45

Sophie-MF_Thales.jpg

 

11 July 2012 Thales

 

Thales Australia has signed a contract with prime contractor Rockwell Collins Australia to deliver its market-leading optronics systems as part of a Department of Defence indirect fire support upgrade program.

 

A significant number of Sophie MF long range multi-function binoculars / thermal imagers and TYR laser target designators will be provided as part of the LAND 17 1B program for a Digital Terminal Control System to improve coordination and terminal control of air, naval and land fire support.

 

The Thales optronics sensors will be seamlessly integrated into Rockwell Collins’ Firestorm joint fires targeting system to provide a complete turnkey solution.

 

Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said: "We have worked very closely with Rockwell Collins Australia to provide an advanced solution that will help the Australian Defence Force enhance its offensive support systems to provide greater tactical flexibility and precision targeting capability. The Sophie family of thermal imagers is used around the world, and we have recently upgraded our optronics facilities in Australia to offer an extensive and responsive local support capability for both thermal and laser equipment.”

 

A world leader in the design and manufacture of thermal imagers, Thales’s Sophie family of both cooled and uncooled products meets the full spectrum of observation, surveillance, orientation and fire-control requirements of today’s defence and security forces. Nondetectable due to their passive infrared operation, Sophie systems can be used day and night and under all weather conditions. Since their introduction, over 10,000 Sophie units have been sold to more than 45 countries. There are currently around 300 Sophie units

already in service with the Australian Defence Force, as well as a quantity of TYRs.

 

The Sophie MF is a complete acquisition, identification and location system that weighs less than 3kg. It can be used day or night, with a high resolution stabilised image, plus an eyesafe laser rangefinder, GPS and direction finder.

 

The TYR is a state of the art compact laser target designator that can operate in standalone applications, with forward observation sensor equipment, dismounted soldiers or vehicle mounted platforms. The TYR designates targets and provides both accurate range data and images of the laser spot on the target to allow laser-guided munitions to be accurately deployed.

Partager cet article
Repost0
29 mai 2012 2 29 /05 /mai /2012 17:51

thales-cytoon-squire-2010mar26.jpg

 

29 May 2012 by Leon Engelbrecht - defenceWeb

 

The South African Army will this afternoon officially receive its new tactical intelligence system acquired over the last several years under Project Cytoon.

 

The SA Army Tactical Intelligence Corps last year began operational testing and evaluation of the system that was project managed by Thales South Africa. A company spokesman last July said testing had begun in August 2010 and was by September “going fairly well.”

 

Project Cytoon will see the gain 14 Thales Squire ground surveillance radars, 65 Thales Sophie thermal imagers, processors and communications equipment as part of a battlefield surveillance and mobile intelligence processing system. “Thales has teamed up with various local and international partners whose products have also been integrated,” the company said at the Africa Aerospace & Defence exhibition in Cape Town in September. “The system has been designed to address the exclusive intelligence requirements of the SANDF, and in doing so established a unique state of the art intelligence gathering system. Project Cytoon has been completed and is ready for commissioning into the SANDF. Operational field tests are being conducted at this moment where-after the SANDF will receive the system. The system will be complemented soon with the delivery of a training system to support the specific training needs of the South African Army Intelligence Formation.”

 

The cost of the programme is not in the public domain but was at least R137 246 961.00 by July last year.

 

Battlefield surveillance radars are used to detect and classify moving ground targets, typically up to 20km to 30km. Additionally, they assist artillery and mortar units by giving feedback on shell impact. Besides battlefield use, these radars can also be deployed in peacetime to safeguard high-value area assets such as oilfields, power stations and grids, as well as other important potential targets for terrorist or criminal acts.

 

Battlefield surveillance radars also assist in counter-drug operations and monitoring illegal border crossings. As an example, the Thales Squire man-portable system, which was ordered for Cytoon, can plot a pedestrian at 10km, a vehicle at 21km, a tank at 28km, a helicopter at 21km, a boat at 12km and a ship at 48km, Thales avers. Because it uses a frequency modulated continuous wave Doppler radar, the Squire is also virtually undetectable to hostile electronic warfare experts, it adds.

 

Thermal imagers detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Since most objects emit such radiation, thermal imagers allow their users to "see" their surroundings with or without visible light. The warmer the object, the brighter the object appears in the imager. Humans, with an internal body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius tend to stand out against their surroundings, which are mostly cooler. This also allows thermal imagers to spot camouflaged targets. Many modern thermal imagers include an eye-safe laser rangefinder and pointer, a compass, GPS and digital camera. The Thales Sophie can spot humans at over 4km, tanks at 10km, helicopters at 12km and jet fighters at 16km, Thales says.

Partager cet article
Repost0
5 mai 2011 4 05 /05 /mai /2011 13:00

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/images/stories/JOINT/JOINT_NEW/2_tech/night_vision_targets.jpg

 

04 May 2011 by defenceWeb

 

The South African Army is purchasing night vision tubes worth R3 million from vendor ECM Technologies. The order was placed last month. It adds to the some R238 million spent on night vision equipment since 2007. In addition to the R241 223 912.08 spent on new equipment, some R17 241 102.51 has been spent on maintenance and repair. The equipment replaces dated technology based on first and second generation image intensifiers. The acquisitions appear separate from Project Cytoon that is seeing the SA Army Tactical Intelligence Corps gaining 14 Thales Squire ground surveillance radars and 65 Thales Sophie thermal imagers.

 

Thermal imagers detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

 

Since most objects emit such radiation, thermal imagers allow their users to "see" their surroundings with or without visible light. The warmer the object, the brighter the object appears in the imager. Humans, with an internal body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius tend to stand out against their surroundings, which are mostly cooler. This also allows thermal imagers to spot camouflaged targets. Many modern thermal imagers include an eye-safe laser rangefinder and pointer, a compass, GPS and digital camera. The Thales Sophie can spot humans at over 4km, tanks at 10km, helicopters at 12km and jet fighters at 16km, Thales says.

Partager cet article
Repost0

Présentation

  • : RP Defense
  • : Web review defence industry - Revue du web industrie de défense - company information - news in France, Europe and elsewhere ...
  • Contact

Recherche

Articles Récents

Categories