Electro-optical infrared systems are playing a vital role in surveillance and counter-insurgence. Specialist FLIR is demonstrating its latest Star Safire system at Paris. Phil Nasskau sees it in operation.
You might be standing at the end of the runway watching the Pilatus PC-12 coming in to land. What you don’t know is that it’s watching you too.
FLIR Government Systems is demonstrating its Star Safire HD electro-optical infrared (EO/IR) system, an all-digital high-definition vision system on its PC-12 demonstator. Customers will have the chance to see the system live in action – but if you’re not American you can’t see the real performance of the system.
It broadcasts in raw HD and gives clear images. “We’re limited as to how much of the system’s performance we can show because of export licensing,” says product manager Robert Kubis. “But even at 18km you can see the Eiffel Tower in clear HD and automatically track it.”
It is a system that is designed for maritime patrol or force protection, as it enables effective observation of large areas at long range. The system can not only detect objects at 10 miles and over, but can also recognise objects as people or vehicles. When fitted to an aircraft, the system can still perform between 20,000ft and 30,000ft.
Star Safire HD is a gyro-stabilised, aerodynamically friendly turret-mounted sensor package.
On FLIR’s PC-12 it uses Pilatus’ Spectre mount and actually retracts into the fuselage for stowage. It can be equipped to feature thermal IR imaging, night vision, multiple fields-of-view, image intensifier, laser rangefinder, laser pointer, laser illuminator, colour high-definition camera and low-light high-definition camera.
Sensor package
It can be equipped with an inertial measurement unit, that coupled with GPS allows the sensor package to know the exact position of the target by measuring distance by laser rangefinder. The onboard software calculates the position relative to the platform’s position.
“The first thing the system does when you start it is to find out where in the world it is using GPS. The fact that our system can actually lock and track something like an antenna [antennas often refract the laser pointer because of their construction] is a strong point for us, and the turret will follow the target while the aircraft orbits,” explains Kubis.
“It is a true digital system, but you can use it as a hybrid – if you take the HD camera and downgrade it to analogue you will get a much better picture. But digital is the way forward,” says Kubis.
At its chalet, FLIR is demonstrating some of its other infrared systems. “There are going to be more systems with laser designators as the world begins to focus on persistent surveillance capabilities to watch large areas continually. Certainly UAVs are helping to drive this focus – in Iraq or Afghanistan these sensor systems are already monitoring insurgents and searching for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).” says Dave Strong, vice-president, marketing.
Another product that is being promoted is its Milcam Recon III – a high-tech set of digital binoculars weighing only 6.2lbs (2.8kg). It has a built-in TV camera, two IR imagers and split-screen view capabilities. Primarily designed for mobile long-range observation it can be data-linked with a variety of platforms – including UAVs and is capable of designating targets for laser-guided bombs or using the thermal imager to view laser spots.
Source: Flight Daily News
