The third generation thermal imager and a color HDTV camera are also part of the optronics mast system. Additionally, a very accurate, far-reaching, and eye-safe laser rangefinder can be added. Gyroscopes are used to stabilize the cameras’ lines of sight in elevation and azimuth. The sensor is built within a retractable unit that is located outside the submarine’s pressure hull. On a separate console with a monitor or on a fire control console, observation and operation are directly controlled. The fully autonomous features of the optronics mast system make it perfect for missions where the sensor is exposed for just a few milliseconds.

For naval systems, the ability to observe, track, and acquire targets while under any conditions and at any time is crucial. Even on choppy waters and with limited visibility, detection at great distances must be guaranteed. Platforms with stability make this possible. In naval operations, optronic systems are a crucial asset that help with the detection, categorization, and identification of contacts and threats. Applications include fire control assistance, tracking, night and day navigation, and marine rescue.

Thermal Cameras

To get the best imaging performance in low-light situations, LWIR thermal cameras pair their own designed and produced optical modules with uncooled detector technologies. Uncooled LWIR technology is appropriate for usage in hot, sandy regions where visibility may be limited by sand, dust, and other obscurants. LWIR is able to penetrate these circumstances better than certain other imaging bands, making it appropriate for vehicle, surveillance, or border applications. MWIR thermal cameras offer outstanding optical performance in a small footprint. MWIR thermal cameras give system designers and end users the greatest flexibility to best meet performance and budget needs. They range from long range, High Definition solutions that output digital video to medium range, Standard Definition variants with a number of output kinds. MWIR cameras are highly suited for border and coastal surveillance, C-UAS applications, and naval and maritime uses since the MWIR waveband is suitable for imaging in marine or tropical conditions.

Directed Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM)

Aerial platforms employ optically aligned infrared countermeasure assemblies, which include infrared telescopes and laser beam expanders. Laser crystals, corner cubes, beam steering optics, beam combiners, and Porro prisms are examples of precision components and subassemblies. Exotic multi-spectral materials’ processing, alignment, and assembly are crucial to the operational success of DIRCM systems. These sensitive materials can be manufactured, coated, and aligned using special techniques that can resist the abrasive military settings.

High-Energy Laser Optics and Assemblies

High-energy laser optics with the best laser damage threshold in their class, extremely little scatter, superb wave front performance, exceptional environmental stability, and tough mechanical durability. Targeting, IR-countermeasure, range finding, and intracavity lasers are just a few of the demanding applications for high-energy laser optics and assemblies. Windows, lenses, prisms, beamsplitters, beamsplitters with actively covalent bonds, polarization control coatings (for intra-cavity and exterior cavity applications), and spatially variable coatings are among the components. Important vacuum cell assemblies, telescope, beam expansion, beam steering, cavity oscillator, and OPO assemblies are examples of assembly.

Infrared Search & Track (IRST)

Fixed-wing aircraft can passively scan and identify potential threats at a distance using infrared search and track optics without having to worry about being seen. IRST, which transitions from forward-looking to all-around situation awareness, is a generalized case of forward looking infrared (FLIR). In contrast to radar, these devices are passive (thermo graphic camera), meaning they do not emit any radiation of their own. They benefit from being hard to find as a result of this. However, the range compared to a radar is limited since the atmosphere attenuates infrared to some level (albeit not as much as visible light) and because poor weather can attenuate it as well (again, not as badly as visible systems). Due to the shorter wavelength, angular resolution is superior to radar within range.

Targeting

EO systems frequently incorporate lasers because of their ability to emit light over the full optical spectrum. They can be employed in military applications to target missiles and other projectiles by emitting radiation that is reflected by the target. As the projectile approaches the target’s broad area, it picks up on this scattered radiation, which it can utilize to acquire a better fix on the target’s precise location. Laser designators can be carried in the hand or placed on land platforms, aircrafts, and unmanned systems.

There is increasing proliferation of unmanned systems for ISR roles across air, land and naval platforms. This trend is expected to continue as unmanned systems are cheaper to acquire and operate than the traditional manned platforms. This will create significant demand for optronic systems that are compact, energy efficient, lightweight and tailor made for unmanned systems.