Thales wins Australian indirect fire support contract
Thales Australia has announced that it has signed a contract with prime contractor Rockwell
Collins Australia to deliver its optronics systems as part of a Department of Defence (DoD) indirect fire support upgrade programme. The company made the announcement 11 July 2012.
As part of the LAND 17 1B programme for a Digital Terminal Control System to improve coordination and terminal control of air, naval and land fire support, Thales will provide a ‘significant number’ of Sophie MF long range multi-function binoculars / thermal imagers and TYR laser target designators.
The Thales optronics sensors will be seamlessly integrated into Rockwell Collins’ Firestorm joint fires targeting system to provide a complete turnkey solution.
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. Non-detectable due to their passive infrared operation, Sophie systems can be used day and night and under all weather conditions.
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 eye-safe 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.
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