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Aviation History
1981
1981 - 0957.PDF
FLIGHT International, 4 April 1981 983 A laser-guided bomb is dropped from an F-16 towards a target illuminated by the Atlis II laser pod -4 -4 page 980 modular thermal imaging system under the direction of the French Army. Preliminary studies began in 1975 and equipment has evolved which uses the 8-13 micron spectral band and produces TV-compatible high-defini tion images. An early application will be the Dassault-Breguet Atlantique Nouvelle Generation (ANG) maritime- patrol aircraft. A Flir turret mounted below the nose observation window will allow passive detection and recog nition of ships and submarine snorkels at ranges beyond those of anti-aircraft defences. The Flir will also provide initial guidance for the AM.39 anti- ship missile. The Franco-German PAH-2 all-weather anti-tank helicopter now under study could use common- module target acquisition and pilot night-vision aids. Venus A nose-mounted Sfim stabilised platform containing a TRT Hector thermal-imaging camera has been installed on an Aerospatiale SA.361 Tw^nhii) light combat helicopter. The camera ha^ '•wo fields of view and the image is dispj- yed in the eyepiece of a conventional ro f-mounted Hot anti tank missile day sight. Aerospatiale has conducted succt ssful Hot night firing trials using thi- system. Future all-weather Hot sys'ems, such as the Franco-German PAH-2, could use the TRT Cantor thermal imaging camera now under test. Cantor could be used with automatic target tracking. GERMANY Common modules The German thermal imaging common modules programme is to use Texas Instru ments detectors built under licence by AEG-Telefunken. The detectors are identical to those used in the US common modules and will be available from early 1982. Planned applications are Leopard tanks, Jaguar Hot/Tow- armed anti-tank vehicles, armoured personnel carriers and the proposed Franco-German PAH-2 all-weather anti-tank helicopter for the late 1980s. Eltro RZ1002 The Eltro thermal imaging system consists of a camera with a 100-element detector array pro ducing a 400-line picture by interpola tion. Applications are primarily ground based. Siemens Siflir The first prototypes of the Siflir modular thermal imaging system, developed jointly with Swiss subsidiary Siemens-Albis, will be avail able later this year. The equipment uses Mullard detectors and is initially intended for the next Swiss main battle tank. Siflir, operating in the 8-12 micron window, will be offered as an alternative to the German common modules for both ground-to-air and air- to-ground applications. Siemens also produces the Siretrac surface-to-air target tracker which uses polar scan ning to increase data rate, and sensi tivity, at the boresigbt. INTERNATIONAL Thomson-CSF/ Martin-Marietta Atlis II Atlis (Autopointeur Television a Laser Illuminant le Sol) is a daylight fire- control pod for single-seat aircraft, incorporating automatic TV tracker and laser designator/ranger. A proto type, built by Thomson-CSF with help from Martin Marietta, was tested in late 1976/early 1977 on a French Air Force Jaguar. As a result, the Service Second prototype LM Ericsson Flir pod under the wing of a two-seat Viggen approved development of the system for use with AS.30L air-to-ground missiles, laser-guided bombs and laser- seeking rockets, all equipped with the Thomson-CSF Ariel seeker. During 1978, two prototype Atlis II pods were tested on a Jaguar and F-16. The latest system is lighter (150kg compared with 240kg), easier to maintain and incorporates a digital computer which can interface with the avionics databus of a modern fighter such as the F-16 or Mirage 2000. The French Air Force has now ordered the system. The TV, which operates in both visual and near-infrared spectrums can cover a 320° forward cone to detect and identify targets. Automatic tracking is achieved by area correla tion for large or low-contrast targets and by point tracking for small tar gets. The coaxial laser designator/ ranger automatically illuminates the chosen target for laser-seeking weapons or for another aircraft. A laser spot tracker is optional. Targets can be designated at 10km range. Atlis II can be used to identify tar gets in air combat. TRT/Siemens/MSDS Mira 2 Night sights for the Euromissile Milan man- portable anti-tank missile are ex pected to enter service with the British, French and German armies from 1983. The Mira 2 thermal imager is designed to clip on to the standard Milan firing post and provide a pic ture, generated by LEDs, through the operator's eyepiece. The night sight can be used in daylight to distinguish between knocked out and live tanks. SWEDEN LM Ericsson Flir Since 1974, LM Ericsson has been working on Flir systems suitable for low-altitude navi gation and target acquisition. Second- .*- *- page 986
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