Thales Group said the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has awarded it a contract for the manufacture and supply of 10 sets of Sophie XF Type long-range cooled thermal imagers.
The order also includes logistical support, documentation and training.
Delivery is expected this fall, the group said in a statement.
Sophie XF is designed to complement around 100 previous systems used by the German armed forces.
It is a hand-held, multi-functional thermal imaging device with laser range finder, daylight camera and position sensor–GPS receiver and digital compass. The continuous optical zoom makes the high optical performance capability very easy to use, the statement said.
The German armed forces will use this long-range imager for surveillance, target acquisition and identification and determining the coordinates of these targets at night and in adverse visibility conditions.
“We are delighted with this follow-up procurement order, which will provide the user with an innovative, user-friendly device with a wide range of applications,” said Holger Brandt, vice president Defence & Security Systems Thales Deutschland.