Thales has been awarded a follow-on contract for production and delivery of additional Sophie eXtended Functions (XF) Type long-range cooled thermal imaging systems to the German Armed Forces.
Awarded by the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), the contract covers delivery of an additional ten Sophie XF imagers along with logistical support, documentation and training to the army.
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Commenting on the contract, Thales Deutschland Defence and Security Systems vice president Holger Brandt said the latest order would provide Bundeswehr with a user-friendly device featuring a wide range of applications.
Complementing nearly 100 previous systems used by the armed forces, the Sophie XF imagers delivered under the latest contract are scheduled to be used for surveillance, target acquisition and identification missions.
The imagers will also be used for determining target coordinates at night and during adverse visibility conditions.
Weighing 3.5kg, the Sophie XF is a third-generation, handheld mid-wave infrared (IR) thermal imager designed for precise long range surveillance and target acquisition, including camouflaged targets, in the battlefield.
The multi-functional imager features laser range finder, daylight camera and position sensor, such as GPS receiver and digital compass, target locator, longer-life batteries, as well as a continuous optical zoom capabilities that ensure accurate moving targets location even in poor weather conditions.
The imager can also be networked to latest civilian technologies, through USB, ethernet and Bluetooth, combined with a large capacity image storage, and capacity video transmission.
Deliveries under the contract are scheduled to start in the autumn of 2013.
Image: The Sophie XF imagers are used for long-range surveillance and target acquisition. Photo: courtesy of Thales Group.
