Thales has signed a contract to deliver four prototype Panoramic Above Armour Gimbal (PAAG) electronic surveillance systems to the German Armed Forces, for its Boxer vehicles.
The contract was awarded by German defence company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.
The addition of the stabilised PAAG will provide the Boxer vehicles with long-range ‘Detection, Recognition, Identification’ (DRI) and weapon aiming capability on the move, during daylight and night conditions. The system can be remotely controlled from inside the vehicle.
According to a Thales statement, the four prototypes will be manufactured next year as part of the Joint Fire Support Team (JFST) contract.
A follow-on production contract is expected in 2025.
Automatic video tracking (AVT) and assisted target detection (ATD) will also be included in the JFST PAAG system.
The system will also include a laser rangefinder to determine distances of up to 10km. It can be raised above the vehicle roof to monitor targets behind a ridgeline.
Thales Germany country director and CEO Oliver Dörre said: “We are delighted that the German Armed Forces, and our long-standing partner Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, have chosen most advanced optronics from Thales for its Boxer JFST.
“This means that the German Armed Forces are now one of the 50 armies worldwide that rely on our trusted solutions for their vehicle optronic.”
The Boxer is an 8×8 all-terrain heavily armoured utility vehicle, that can be used in different mission scenarios.
The JFST programme in Germany will involve the delivery of two prototype vehicles based on the Boxer 8×8 armoured vehicle, coupled with a new JFST mission module.
This mission module will integrate new sub systems, including the Thales PAAG.
Last month, Thales UK secured a contract to supply sighting systems for the British Army’s upgraded Challenger 3 main battle tank (MBT).
