Northrop Grumman Electro-Optical Systems is developing a Digitally-fused Fire Control Unit (DFCU) for crew-served weapons under a multi-million dollar program funded by the Night Vision & Electronics Sensors Directorate.
DRS Technologies has won a major Marine Corps contract to deliver the handheld Thermal Binocular System (TBS) uncooled Tactical-Range Thermal Imager (TRTI) for long-range observation and reconnaissance applications.
Semi-Conductor Devices, SCD has further improved its VOx microbolometers.
FLIR Systems has formed a strategic alliance with Pelco, the world’s largest video security equipment manufacturer. The two companies will develop a series of new thermal and video security surveillance systems.
The Shephard Night Vision conference in Baltimore at the beginning of October provided the usual mix of capabilities and operational experience. Ed Bair, PEO, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors in the U.S. Army, emphasized the value of infrared in the Iraq conflict.
The United Kingdom’s Surveillance System and Range Finding (SSARF) program has passed Initial Gate and is now passing into an Assessment Phase. The program is intended to provide British soldiers with 940 integrated handheld/tripod-mounted battlefield surveillance systems.
DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) has awarded over $4 million in contracts for the Visible / Short Wave Infrared-Photon Counting Arrays (PCAR) program. The goal is to develop large format, high resolution imaging sensors that operate at extremely low levels of illumination and require ultra-low-noise photon counting techniques.
Cedip Infrared has been selected by EADS and DGA to supply the infrared cameras for the French DRAC (Drone de Reconnaissance Au Contact), a real-time tactical UAV system. Each DRAC system consists of two mini-UAVs, each of which has a day/night payload.