L-3 WESCAM launches MX-10 EO/IR imaging turret

L-3 WESCAM announced today the launch of its MX-10 EO/IR turret. The flight-proven MX-10 incorporates the company’s multi-spectral MX-series technology into a smaller turret to give defence, homeland security, and airborne law enforcement customers a modern option for a lighter, lower clearance EO/IR product.

The MX-10 weighs only 37 lb, stands less than 14 in tall and is engineered without a separate control electronics box or an external vibration isolator. Furthermore, the turret is capable of simultaneous HD digital video, NTSC or PAL analog video outputs, and is compatible with all existing MX-Series command and control, moving map, SLASS and radar interfaces. This commonality promotes a faster transition period, and ease of use for customers who decide to switch current MX-fitted fleets over to the smaller MX-10 turret offering.

Similar to larger MX-series products, the MX-10 can incorporate up to six sensors. Infra-red, color and electron-multiplied CCD imaging sensors can be combined with a laser rangefinder, pointer and illuminator for maximum mission performance. Further advancing visual performance, real-time image enhancement on all MX-10 sensors is done simultaneously, including haze penetration and imaging fusion – both of which lead to improved feature detection and recognition.

Like the larger MX-series turrets, the MX-10 also comes equipped with an internal IMU that is mounted directly on the optical bench. This mounting position allows the turret to determine the absolute pointing direction of the system's cameras, without needing to collect further information from 'relative' sensors, mounting alignment calibration data, or the aircraft’s inertial navigation system. The turret’s MX-GEO package works directly with the integrated IMU to achieve higher target location accuracy.