Airborne Imaging in 2011
Airborne Imaging in 2011
Airborne Imaging in 2011
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
FOREWORD
FOREWORD
Quality intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) has unquestionably become a prized capability in the current counterinsurgency environment in Afghanistan and Iraq, where the adversary cam move quickly and in small numbers, blend in with the local population, and adjust tactics quickly to exploit US weaknesses. The former head of US Air Force intelligence, Lieutenant General David Deptula, put it succinctly in a Winter 2010 Air and Space Power Journal article when he and a colleague wrote amateurs do continue to talk about strategy, but professionals increasingly talk about information how to get it, use it, and keep getting it, given the speed, complexity, and character of the challenges faced by our forces abroad and our domestic security organizations at home. This demand for high-delity ISR at the strategic, operational and tactical levels has driven an unprecedented revolution in sensor technology. Since the 2002 US-led invasion of Iraq, defence contractors in America and abroad have scrambled to produce increasingly sophisticated airborne ISR payloads that can operate multiple cameras, use lasers to designate targets, and transmit imagery and coordinates to ground forces in near real-time. Strapped to manned aircraft or aerial drones, these multispectral sensors operate in multiple modes usually with both day (electro-optical camera) and night (infrared camera) capability to provide ground forces critical, time-sensitive information about the insurgent hiding around the corner or entering a town by vehicle. Both sensor types are typically equipped with high-magnication optical lenses that may provide zoom capability. They may also have laser rangenders or designator/rangenders to help identify targets. Demand for these airborne, multi-spectral sensors skyrocketed after the 2002 invasion of Afghanistan. The head of Raytheons surveillance targeting systems product line, Andy Bonnot, recalls that US military demand for airborne ISR was so urgent that the company found itself lling orders in just 90 days. Since then, US and coalition forces requirements have only grown, with Raytheon, for example, delivering over 100 ISR systems by the summer of 2005, and ve years later, in 2010, hitting the one thousand mark. These airborne, multi-spectral sensors are frequently packaged into a turret, which is a mounting for sensor payloads that is gyro-stabilised to ensure the delivery of clear images despite aircraft vibrations. These turrets can be mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, xed wing aircraft and even aerostats. Overtime, as sensors have decreased in size and increased in resolution, more and more can be packed into one turret. Wide Area Airborne Surveillance (WAAS) systems, which are now being developed by both the US Air Force and US Army, can have as many as nine sensors packaged on the turret. Sierra Nevada Corporations Gorgon Stare payload, for example, houses ve EO cameras and four IR cameras. Turret stabilisation technology also has been rened in recent years, with the most common conguration becoming a fouraxis set of two gyro-stabilised gimbals. In addition, image resolution improved with the advent of high-denition (HD) TV. Both electro-optical (Charged Coupled Device TV) and infrared (thermal imaging) cameras have benetted from HD technology, which increases the number of pixels in a sensors array to improve image resolution. In particular, focal plane arrays have evolved from a 320 x 240 format to 640 x 480 pixels, and now, HD array formats of 1,920 1,080 pixels, as is the case with the miniature 1080p HD camera in L-3 Wescams MX-15HDI sensor turret. Thermal sensors in particular have undergone some signicant improvements in recent years, both in terms of the materials from which they are made and the process by which they operate. Most sensor turrets incorporate staring focal plane array (FPA) thermal imagers, which often operate in either the mid-wave infrared (MWIR 3-5 m) or long-wave infrared (LWIR - 8-12 m) spectral ranges, depending on the mission set. One common thermal imager material is mercury cadmium telluride (MCT), which requires cryogenic cooling to enhance its thermal sensitivity. Cooled systems have been around a long time, but uncooled sensors have also made strides in recent years. The advantage of uncooled infrared detectors is that they are lighter and may have a smaller logistics burden, since they dont require the tubes, wires, and other components necessary for cooling. The trade-off is that they may
have a reduced thermal sensitivity without cooling, and therefore need more sensitive optics. Airborne multi-spectral sensors also benet from ever-improving image processing software. Various software algorithms can be employed to enhance image resolution. GPS/ INS systems can be integrated with the sensors to allow for geo-location tagging of images, meaning one can reference the image on a local map. The GPS/INS systems also can be used to help sensors continuously track targets. All of this imagery can be transferred via data link to operators with access to displays available at ground stations, inside ships, at air operations centres, and distributed ground stations, and on tactical hand-held systems like the Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) and the One System Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT). Some of the most common airborne multi-spectral sensors in theatre today are Raytheons Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems (MTS) series. The Navy uses the MTS-A, designated the AN/AAS-44C, onboard its HH/MH-60 Seahawk helicopters. The US Air Force uses the MTS-A, designated the AN/ AAS-52, on its MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft, as well as the MTS-B, designated AN/DAS-1 on its MQ-9 Reaper aerial drone. Also part of the MTS family is the AN/ZSQ-2 (V) turret used on helicopters of the US Special Operations Command. Another widely used sensor is L-3 Wescams MX-15, a midsize sensor with a 394 mm diameter, along with the larger MX-20 (530 mm diameter) and the smaller MX-10 (260 mm diameter). The MX-15Di is equipped onboard the USAFs MC-12W Project Liberty xed wing aircraft. As the quality and availability of airborne, multispectral sensors continues to improve, the amount of imagery available to warghters is also growing. While the demand for ISR appears to be insatiable on the battleeld, the warghters ability to digest all the information is limited by the manpower available to process it all. As a result, both American defence contractors and the US military are paying more attention to improving data management through autonomous systems. To reduce information overload, companies are seeking to increase the autonomy of airborne, multi-spectral sensors. This concept allows developing technology that can select the most useful change information and send it down to the operator, rather than sending down hours of video in which nothing of much use or interest is occurring. For example, a UAV equipped with
4 | Flightglobal Insight | Airborne Imaging 2011
a multispectral sensor to monitoring a village would not send down hours of video feed, but instead would be programmed to send down only the most relevant imagery, such as a new vehicle entering the village. This special report attempts to highlight some of the airborne, multi-spectral sensors having a major impact battleeld ISR today. With new sensors coming on the market at a rapid rate, this report is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather to provide a general overview. The sensors described here are multi-spectral, turreted, airborne, dedicated to the ISR mission, and are medium to large in terms of size. Small and miniature airborne multi-spectral sensors, which are proliferating rapidly, were omitted from this report and are prevalent enough to be revisited in an entirely separate special report dedicated only to them.
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CONTENT
NORTH AMERICA DRS FLIR Hood Technology (Alticam) L-3 Lockheed Martin Raytheon Sierra Nevada Corporation EUROPE/ISRAEL Controp Elbit Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)/Tamam Rafael Sagem Selex Galileo Thales UOMZ 7 8 11 11 15 16 19
20 21 23 24 24 25 26 27
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NORTH AMERICA
DRS
GS410-LD Stabilised Multisensor
The GRS410-LD features Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), zoom colour TV, laser pointer, laser range nder, and optional laser designator, integrated with an automatic video tracker. GS410-LD STABILISED MULTISENSOR Payload weight Dimensions Field of view Stabilisation applications less than 20.4 kg (45 lb) 39.9 cm height x 26.2 cm diameter Infrared: 30; 8.6; 2.2 horizontal TV: continuous 58 to 1.7 horizontal 4 axis stabilisation
DRS
Stabilisation applications
DRS
DRS
DRS
DRS
DRS
FLIR
AN/AAQ-22E BRITE Star II and BRITE Star DP
The BRITE STAR II consists of sensors added to the AN/AAQ-22 SAFIRE/Star SAFIRE family of turrets. The surveillance and targeting system combines color optical imagery (a three-eld of view, high-resolution, 3 chip color daylight camera with monochrome mode) with a ve eld-of-view large format thermal imager. It also carries a diode-pumped laser designator/range nder and laser pointer. The system is compatible with US and NATO laser-guided munitions, including AGM-114 Hellre missiles. The BRITE Star II is the sensor used on the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System (VUAS). The unmanned helicopter ew for the rst time from the US Navys Littoral combat Ship (LCS) on 18 November. The US Marine Corps are equipping UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) with BRITE Star II, as well as their successor airframe, the UH1Y Venom scout and utility helicopter. The BRITE Star DP is an export version, and it is essentially the same sensor t as the BRITE Star II, but with less capability in some areas including magnication and range. It was designed for an undisclosed international customer. AN/AAQ-22E BRITE STAR II Platform Payload weight Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout Turrett Flir Unit (TFU) weight: 120 lbs (54.4 kg) 125 lbs (56.7 kg) with boresight module Control Electronic Unit: (CEU): 24 lbs (10.9 kg) TFU: 16.2 in x 19.3 in (410 mm x 490 mm) CEU: 10.0 in x 7.5 in x12.5 in (254 mm x 191 mm x 318 mm) 30 to 0.31 in ve stages 3-5 m Spectral Range of Thermal Imager: 3 to 5 m Range of Laser RangeFinder: 20 km (5 m) 4-axis gimbal
FLIR
Stabilisation applications
BRITE STAR DP
The BRITE Star DP is an export version, and it is essentially the same sensor t as the BRITE Star II, but with less capability in some areas including magnication and range performance. BRITE STAR DP Payload weight TFU: 120 lbs (54.4 kg) 125 lbs (56.7 kg) with boresight module CEU: 24 lbs (10.9 kg) TFU: 16.2 in x 19.3 in (410 mm x 490 mm) CEU: 10.0 in x 7.5 in x 12.5 in (254 mm x 191 mm x 318 mm) Thermal Imager: 30 to 0.45 Daylight camera: matched to thermal imager eld of views Spectral Range of Thermal Imager: 3 to 5 m Range of Laser RangeFinder: 20 km (5 m) 4-axis gimbal
STAR SAFIRE
First elded around six years ago by television news channels and the lm industry, digital high-denition imaging systems are increasingly standard kit for military buyers. FLIR Systems standard-bearer in this fast-growing market segment is its Star Sare HD system. When unveiled at the Paris Air Show in 2005, FLIR described the latest member of the Star Sare portfolio as the rst all digital HD payload from the detector to connector. That event also saw the announcement of the Star Sare HDs the US Army, which mounts the camera on a tethered aerostat as a surveillance system for bases in Afghanistan and Iraq. Contained within a 15in turret, the stabilised HD system offers thermal, colour and image intensied cameras, three lasers and an inertial measurement unit. The product has been updated since 2005 to increase the range, performance and pixels on target of the infrared imagers focal-plane detectors.
STAR SAFIRE Payload weight Dimensions Field of view less than 45kg 380mm x 475mm (single LRU) Colour high denition: 29 to 0.25 Colour low light high denition: 55 to 1.5 Short wave infrared: 28 to 0.25 Thermal imager: 30 to 0.25 6-axis
FLIR
Stabilisation applications
FLIR
FLIR
To request a free demo email [email protected] or call +44 1788 564 800 US toll free +1 866 348 4503
www.flightglobal.com
MULTI 800 Platform Payload weight Dimensions Field of view US Navy Insitu Integrator 5,550 gm 25.4 cm diameter 2.50 and 100 mid-wave IR 240 long-wave IR 1.70 - 560 electro-optical Thermal imaging: 3 - 5 m mid-wave IR 8 - 12 m long-wave IR 400 - 900 m electro-optical Laser Marker: 830 nm Laser Range nder: 3 km
Range
L-3
L-3 Wescam MX-10 Sensor Turret
The MX-10 sensor turret, introduced at the 2009 Paris Air Show, is the smaller cousin of L-3s MX-15 and MX-20 sensor families. It offers a total of six payloads including a thermal imager; a two-megapixel daylight continuous zoom colour HD TV camera;a Low-Light continuous zoom electron-multiplied CCD TV camera; a laser rangender; a laser illuminator, and a laser pointer. The system began ight trials onboard the AS 355 Ecureuil II helicopter in May 2009 and was also demonstrated at HeliTech international in September 2009.
L-3 WESCAM MX-10 SENSOR TURRET Platform Payload weight Dimensions The system is relatively new, and its small size is geared toward airframes with lower ground clearance 37 lb turret 14 in (35 cm) turret height for lower ground clearance Gimbal (diam h): 26 35.5 cm Hand controller (w l d): 10.8 22.8 Thermal Imager spectral range: 3 to 5 m Four-axis stabilized gimbal and hand controller
L-3
L-3
Like the MX-15i and MX-15Di, the MX-15 True HD hosts its electronics control unit on top of the turret instead of externally to reduce weight.
L-3 MX-15 Payload weight Dimensions Field of view 42.7 kg 394 x 470 mm High Magnication Thermal Imager: NTSC: 31.7 to 0.43 (in four stages) PAL (large format): 31.8, 6.51, 1.30, 0.52 PAL (small format): PAL 19.4, 3.91, 0.78, 0.52 Color daylight TV with zoom lens: 27.4 to 1.4 FoV with optional 19 lens with 2 extender: 30.3 to 0.86 TV Camera with spotter lens (optional): 0.29 or 0.39 High Magnication Thermal Imager spectral range: 3 to 5 m Laser range nder: 10 km (20 km range gate) four-axis active gyro-stabilisation, plus six-access passive isolation vibration stabilization. All MX-series turrets feature an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) mounted on the inner gimbal with the payload. The MX-GEO package also helps with stabilization, providing GEO-pointing, GEO-steering, GEO-focus, auto-tracker and moving map functions are all available.
MX-20 (AN/ASX-4)/MX-20HD
The MX-20 is designed to provide long-range stand-off surveillance and identication, being gyro-stabilised and having high magnication optics. Initially congured to accommodate up to six sensor systems, since September 2005 a seventh has been possible. L-3 has also developed a high denition verison of the turret, known as MX-20 True HD, which is capable of providing 1080p imaging resolution a thermal imager, with high magnication 4-step zoom; colour daylight CCD camera with zoom lens; colour (or monochrome) daylight camera with 4-step spotter lens; night camera, with 4-step spotter lens; laser rangender; and two choices of laser illuminator/pointer, claimed by the company as being able to see clearer and further than any system in its class.
L-3
MX-20 Platform Deployed on the US Navys P-3C Orion ; US Coast GuardsHC-130H Hercules(with the designation An/ASX-4); Canadas CP-140 Aurora; and US Army Persistent Threat Detection System aerostat The MX-20 is the chosen turret for Lockheed Martins AN/AAQ-30 Hawkeye target sight system, which is for the US Marine Corps AH-1Z SuperCobra helicopter upgrade. The MX-20 also has been selected to equip the Royal New Zealand Air Force eet of ve P-3K Orions, as part of the Project Guardian upgrade. The MX-20 is also part of the sensor package for Selex Galileos Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance (ATOS) system, which is equipped on Italian Ministry of Finance ATR42 MP Surveyor maritime patrol aircraft. Norway ordered eight MX-20 systems for its P-3 Orion eet in April 2006. Australia announced that the ATOS-derived system had been selected to equip 10 Dash 8 Q200 aircraft and two helicopters (Bell 206LR and 412EP) in February 2007. Boeing selected the MX-20HD for the US Navys P-8A Poseidon aircraft in March 2008. L-3 announced also has a contract with the US Air force for an undisclosed number of MX20D with HD sensors to be supplied to an unnamed customer. L-3 announced in September 2010 a contract with Quantum Research International to provide four imaging and targeting systems for the US Armys Long Endurance Multi-intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) L-3 Wescam will supply two MX-20D (plus two MX-15HDi) sensor turrets to equip the LEMV. 84.1 kg 53 67 cm High magnication thermal imager: 18.2 to 0.24 in four stages (720p and 1,080p) Colour daylight TV with zoom lens (standard) Fields-of-view (option A): 41.3 to 2.2 (7200p); 44 to 3.2 (1,080p) Fields-of-view (option B): 21.3 to 1.83 (7200p); 18.2 to 2.75 (1,080p) TV with step spotter lens (optional) 0.115 to 0.61 (720p); 0.17 to 0.92 (1,080p) in 4-steps MX-Day/Night Spotter{TM} with dual-channel step-spotter (requires Colour HD camera above) 0.14 to 0.73 in 4-steps (720p and 1,080p) High Magnication Thermal Imager: 3 to 5 m Laser range nder: 30 km (50 km range gate) 5-axis gyro-stabilisation 6-axis vibration isolation
L-3
L-3
L-3
L-3
Lockheed Martin
AN/AAQ-30 Target Site System (TSS)
Lockheed Martins TSS is the multi-sensor electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) re control system for the U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. It features a large-aperture (8.55 inches) midwave forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, colour TV, laser designator/rangender (with eyesafe mode), and an on-gimbal inertial measurement unit integrated into a turret. The turret mounts to the nose of the aircraft via the Lockheed Martin-developed aircraft interface structure. TSS provides the capability to identify and laser-designate targets at maximum weapon range, according to Lockheed Martin. AN/AAQ-30 TARGET SITE SYSTEM (TSS) Platform Payload weight Dimensions Field of view US Marine Corps AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. Turret: 83 kg Electronics unit: 33 kg 520 mm diameter Wide: 21.7 16.3 Medium: 4.4 3.3 Narrow: 0.88 0.66 Very narrow: 0.59 0.44 Gimbal stabilized to <15 microradians, includes on-gimbal inertial measurement unit for reduced image blur due to jitter and precise line pointing, target geo-location, and multi-target tracking
Lockheed Martin
Stabilisation applications
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Raytheon
AN/AAS-52 Multi-Spectral Targeting System MTS-A
The AN/AAS-52 MTS-A incorporates electro-optical, infrared (EO/IR) and laser-ranging capabilities. The system provides long-range surveillance, target acquisition, tracking, range-nding and laser designation for the AGM-114 Hellre missile and for all tri-service and NATO laser-guided munitions. The system was own on the MQ-1 Predator in the late 1990s in support of the US militarys involvement in Kosovo, and US military orders exploded after the 9/11 attacks, when the USAF began an aggressive effort to arm MQ-1 Predator aircraft with Hellre missiles, according to Andy Bonnot, Raytheons product line director for Surveillance & Targeting Systems. High denition (HD) capability is available if requested, according to Raytheon.
Raytheon
Raytheon
AN/AAS-52 MULTI-SPECTRAL TARGETING SYSTEM MTS-A Platform Rotary wing (known as AN/AAS -44C (V) when equipped on the US Navy MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters) and unmanned air vehicles including the MQ-1 Predator. Raytheon says the MTS-A is also suitable for xed wing applications. US Special Operations Command MH-47 and MH-60 helicopters are equipped with a sensor evolved from the MTS-A and MTS-B that ts on the nose of the helicopter, known as the AN-ZSQ-2. Weapons Replaceable Assembly 1 (WRA-1): 130 lb WRA-2: 25 lb WRA: 1: 18 in diameter WRA 2: 1/2 ATR, 14.4 (L) x 4.9 (W) x 7.6 (H) inches (for 28 Vdc operation) Wide: 34 x 45 Medium-wide: 17 x 22 Medium: 5.7 x 7.6 Medium-narrow: 2.8 x 3.7 Narrow: 1.2 x 1.6 (IR and TV) Ultra-narrow: 0.6 x 0.8 (IR) Ultra-narrow: 0.21 x 0.27 (TV) Six-axis stabilized mount
Stabilisation applications
AN/DAS-1 MULTI-SPECTRAL TARGETING SYSTEM MTS-B Platform Unmanned aerial vehicles including the MQ-9 Reaper and the MQ-4C, the US Navys Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) Raytheon says it is also suitable for helicopter and xed-wing aircraft applications. Weapons Replaceable Assembly 1 (WRA-1): 230 lb WRA-2: 25 lb WRA-1: 22 in. diameter WRA-2: ATR, 14.4 (L) x 4.9 (W) x 7.6 (H) inches
Raytheon
Raytheon
The army is performing a Cockpit and Sensor Upgrade Program (CASUP) on the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed scout helicopter that will include replacing the current Mast-Mounted Sight with the CSP. Stabilization Applications Sensor system will be packaged in a multi-axis stabilised gimbal turret
Raytheon
AN/AAS-53 COMMON SENSOR PAYLOAD (CSP) Platform Payload weight Scheduled for integration on the MQ-1C and the OH-58F 161 pounds
AIRBORNE VISION ENHANCED SYSTEM (AVES) Platform Payload weight Dimensions Field of view Shadow R Mk 1 WRA-1: 130 lbs WRA-2: 35 lbs WRA-1: 18 in. WRA-2: 2 ATR, 16.5 in. (L) x 13.5 in. (W) x 9.3 in. (H) (for 28 Vdc operation) Wide: 34-45 Medium-wide: 1 x 22 Medium: 5.7 x 7.6 Narrow: 1.2 x 1.6 (IR and TV) Ultra-narrow: 0.6 x 0.8 (IR) Ultra-narrow: 0.21 x 0.27 (TV)
USAF
EUROPE/ISRAEL
Controp
DSP-1
The DSP-1 consists of a four-gimbal, gyro-stabilised turret that includes two sensors: a high-resolution colour CCD daylight TV camera (or a 3-CCD TV as an option) with 20 zoom, as well as one of the companys Fox Gen 3 thermal cameras. Choices include either the Fox-720 with an InSb 320 256 FPA and a 22.5 zoom lens or the Fox-600 with a high-resolution 640 512 FPA.
Controp
DSP-1 Platform Payload weight Dimensions Field of view The DSP-1 is marketed toward UAVs, helicopters, xed wing aircraft, and aerostats. 22.5 kg turret; Payload Electronic Box: 3.5 kg 330X483 mm Fox-720 thermal imager: wide 27.0 20.6; narrow 0.76 0.57 (with 320 x 256 FPA) Daylight TV Camera: wide: 13.6 x 10.2 ; narrow 0.7 x 0.52 Fox-720 thermal imager spectral range: 3 to 5 m 4 gimbal gyro-stabilised turret
LDP
The LDP System is a compact Day/Night/Designator observation system especially congured for use on UAVs, military helicopters and marine patrol boats. LDP Platform Payload weight Dimensions Field of view The LPD is optimised for UAV and helicopter applications Turret: 32 kg; Payload Electronic Box: 3.5 kg 354 mm Fox-720 thermal imager : wide 27.0 20.6; narrow 0.76 0.57 (with 320 X 256 FPA) Daylight TV Camera: narrow 0.70 0.52; wide: 13.6 10.2 Optional 3 CCD TV camera: narrow: 0.90 0.68; wide: 18.0 13.5 Fox-720 thermal imager spectral range: 3 to 5 m
Range
Elbit
Compact Multi-Purpose Advanced Stabilised System (CoMPASS)
The CoMPASS family of systems is a highly stabilized, multi-sensor electro-optical payload. It features a thermal imager, colour TV camera, laser rangender/designator and laser target illuminator. The latest model, known as the CoMPASS IV, is lighter than the previous version. An all-digital version known as DCoMPASS is also available, as well as two small diameter version known as Mini-CoMPASS and Micro-CoMPASS. The CoMPASS system can be used for the following missions: Automatic target tracking Dual color target designation Line of Sight (LOS) positioning for re control applications Navigation capabilities for target gathering and geolocation See the separate entry for a description of DCoMPASS. The Mini-CoMPASS has a 305 mm (12 in) diameter, and the Micro-CoMPASS has just a 203 mm (8 in) diameter. COMPASS Platform Payload weight Dimensions Field of view Range Designed for xed wing, helicopters, UAVs. 38 kg with laser designator 38 cm (15 in) diameter Thermal Imager: 0.61 0.46 (narrow); 2 1.5 (medium); 13.7 10.2 (wide) Colour TV: 0.7 0.52 (narrow); 13.7 10.2 with 2 (wide) Thermal Imager (spectral) : 3 to 5 m Colour TV (spectral) : 450 to 750 nm Laser target illuminator (spectral) : 830 nm Range: 10 km
Elbit
Elbit
To request a free demo email [email protected] or call +44 1788 564 800 US toll free +1 866 348 4503
www.flightglobal.com
DCOMPASS Platform Payload weight Dimensions Field of view UKs WK450 Watchkeeper UAV 33 to 38 kg 38 cm (15 in) diameter Thermal Imager ( 2 Sensor Model Options) Flir A-Topaz: 24 18 (wide); continuous (medium); 0.8 0.6 (narrow) Flir B-Lotus: 13 7 (wide); 2.0 1.5 (medium); 0.61 0.46 (narrow); Color TV: 0.59 x 0.44 (narrow) 21.25 x 16 (wide) Thermal Imager Spectral Range: 3-5 m Laser Range nder: 20 km
Range
MULTIMISSION OPTRONIC STABILISED PAYLOAD (MOSP) Platform US Armys Northrop Grumman-manufactured MQ-5A Hunter UAV; Finnish Army IAi/ Oerlikon/RUAG Ranger UAV, and other unspecied customers that use it for xed wing, rotary wing, manned and unmanned aircraft, and also ships and ground vehicles. 30-35 kg (conguration-dependent) 350 mm diameter TV Camera Option 1: 18 x 13.7 to 1.3 1 Option 2: 18 x 13.7 to 0.5 0.3 Thermal Imager: Option 1: Wide: 24.5 18.4 Medium: 7.2 5.4 Narrow: 2 1.5 Option 2: Wide: 16.4 12.3 Medium: 3.6 2.7 Narrow: 0.9 0.7 Four-axis gyro-stabilised
Airborne Imaging 2011 | Flightglobal Insight | 23
Stabilisation applications
Rafael
Toplight
Rafaels Toplight family of sensors is derived from the front end of its lItening targeting and navigation pod. The Toplite series can be used on naval, ground or airborne platforms, and is equipped with a thermal imager, a daylight colour TV camera, laser marker, and laser rangender (or a laser designator/rangender on Toplite III). TOPLIGHT Platform Payload weight Dimensions Field of view The Toplight system is being marketed for use onboard unmanned aerial vehicles and xed wing patrol aircraft. 59 kg 662 mm (594 mm from mounting surface) x 406 mm Toplite II narrow FoV Toplite II medium FoV Toplite II wide FoV Toplite III narrow FoV Toplite III medium FoV Toplite III wide FoV 4-axis gimbals 1.3 1.0 (320 X240 FPA) 4.6 3.5 (320 X 240 FPA) 24 18 (320 X 240 FPA) 1 0.77 (640 X 480 FPA) 4.4 3.3 (640 X 480 FPA) 24 18 (640 X 480 FPA
Rafael
Stabilisation applications
Sagem
Euroir
The Euroir is available in two versions: the EUROFLIR 350, which has a 350 mm diameter gimbal, and EUROFLIR 410, which has a 410 mm diameter gimbal. Both systems can accommodate up to four payloads, including: a thermal imager, HD TV colour camaera, laser range nder, and laser pointer. EUROFLIR Platform EUROFLIR 350: Helicopters, xed-wing aircraft, UAVs. It is qualied on the French Army EC725 Caracal and AS532 Cougar, and it is used onboard Sagems tactical UAV, Sperwer Mk.II. EUROFLIR 410: Several variants of French NH90 helicopters; it is also installed on the French Navys AS565 Panther. EUROFLIR 350: <32 kg EUROFLIR 410: <45 kg EUROFLIR 350: 35.5 cm (14 in) EUROFLIR 410: 41 cm (16 in) EUROFLIR 350 and EUROFLIR 410 Thermal Imager: 1.3 up to 24; UNFOV: down to 0.16 EUROFLIR 350 and EUROFLIR 410: range for detecting people: 3,000 m for identication; 6,500 m for recognition; 1400 m for detection EUROFLIR 350 range for detecting vehicles: 5,500 m for identication; 9,500 m for recognition; 18,000 m for detection EUROFLIR 410 Thermal Imager (Spectral): 3-5m or 8-12m EUROFLIR 350 and 410: 4-axis stabilized gimbal
Sagem
Stabilisation applications
Selex Galileo
Titan 385ES and 385es-HD Multi-Sensor Turret System (MSTS)
The Titan 385 Multi-Sensor Turret System (MSTS) is part of the MSTS family of sensors from Selex Galileo. Its sensor package includes an infrared camera, a colour TV camera, a solid-state low-light television camera and an eye-safe laser rangender. Available options include a laser illuminator and a low-light spotter scope. Variants include the Titan 385ES, which has enhanced stabilisation, as well as the Titan 385ES-HD, which replaces the existing thermal imager with a SLX Merlin thermal camera. The Titan 385ES turret has an enhanced stabilisation feature, while the Titan 385ES-HD sees the existing SiGMA thermal imager replaced by the SLX Merlin thermal camera. TITAN 385ES Platform The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has ordered the Titan 385 for its C-130K Hercules C.1 airlifters. Titan 385ES has been Ordered for RAF Chinook HC.2 and Merlin HC.3 helicopters, Malaysian Navy Super Lynx 300 and German Navy Super Lynx helicopters. Titan 385ES-HD has been selected for the RAF Chinook upgrade under Project Julius in November 2009. 48kg (System Controller additional 3kg) 385 mm diameter Thermal Camera on Titan 385ES: Narrow FoV: 3.6 2.8 (on 640 512 FPA) Wide FoV: 18 14.4 (on 640 512 FPA); Colour TV camera Titan 385ES and 385ES-HD: 18 to 0.9 (auto-matched to thermal camera eld of view) Thermal camera Spectral range for 385ES and 38ES-HD 3 to 5 m Low Light TV camera Spectral Range for 385ES and 38ES-HD 450 to 1,100 nm three-axis gyro-stabilized
Selex Galileo
Thales
Airborne Gyro-stabilised Infrared Light Equipment (AGILE)
AGILE comes in to versions; AGILE 2 for helicopters, light aircraft and smaller UAVs, and AGILE 4 for larger xed-wing aircraft and UAVs. The system includes a thermal imager, daylight colour CCD TV camera, laser range nder and laser range pointer. AGILE Platform Payload weight AGILE 2 has been demonstrated onboard the Schiebel Camcopter S-100 rotary wing aerial drone. AGILE 2: 20 kg AGILE 4: 24 kg AGILE 4 HD: 26 kg AGILE 2: 30 cm diameter AGILE 4: 33 cm diameter AGILE 4 HD: 36 cm diameter Thermal Imager: AGILE 2: 27 x 20 (wide); 2.2 x 1.6 (narrow) AGILE 4: 27 x 20 (wide); 1.2 x 0.8 (Narrow) AGILE 4 HD: 27 x 20 (wide); 0.8 x 0.6 (Narrow) Colour TV: AGILE2: 42 x 32 (wide) ; 1.6 x 1.2 (narrow) AGILE 4: 14 x 10 (wide) ; 0.7 x 0.5 (narrow) AGILE 4 HD: 20 x 15 (wide) ; 0.5 x 0.3 (narrow) Thermal Imager (spectral) : 3 to 5 m Colour TV (spectral) : 450 to 750 nm Laser target illuminator (spectral) : 800 nm - Range: 10 km Laser range nder (spectral) : 1.54m - Range: 20 km Laser Designator (spectral): 1.06 m - Range: 5 to 15 km AGILE 2: 3-axis gyro-stabilised AGILE 4: 4-axis gyro-stabilised AGILE 4 HD: 4-axis gyro-stabilised
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Stabilisation applications
Schiebel
Schiebel
GYROSTABILIZED OPTICAL ELECTRONIC SYSTEM (GOES) Platform The GOES-321M was designed for Russian Mi-8/Mi-17 Hip armed utility helicopters. The GOES-342 was designed for combat helicopters, such as the Mi-24/25/-35 Hind family. The GOES-337M is designed for upgrading the observation and siting system for the Mi-17 Hip combat helicopter GOES 321M: 90 kg GOES 342: 185 kg GOES 337M: 108 kg GOES 321M: 460 x 613 mm GOES 342: 460 x 613 mm GOES 337M: 464 x 624 mm GOES 321M: Azimuth: 230 Elevation: +40 to -30 GOES 342: Azimuth: 230 Elevation: + 25 to -115 GOES 337M: Azimuth: 230 Elevation: -110 to +30
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UOMZ