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06 Mar 14. Fused Night Vision demonstrated in Night Tunnel at Eurosatory 2014. Thermoteknix’ ground-breaking ClipIR clip on thermal imager, which creates Fused Night Vision, will be demonstrated in a dedicated Night Tunnel at Eurosatory 2014. ClipIR attaches to Night Vision Image Intensifiers (I2) to combine thermal imaging with image intensification for Fused Night Vision in low light and complete darkness. Fused Night Vision technology is the new standard for civil and military operations, to give 24 hour operational capability. Fused I2 and thermal technology is ideal for dusk to night, heavy cloud, forest/jungle and inside buildings as well as well-lit night time urban environments when over amplification of light sources (e.g. car headlamps/streetlights) causes I2 devices to fail. The Night Tunnel built on the Thermoteknix stand provides Eurosatory 2014 visitors with first-hand experience of ClipIR’s performance in real-life night-time conditions. Mil Spec ClipIR is unique in its 40° Field of View which matches that of the I2 for maximum situational awareness in all conditions and is available with a range of brackets to fit most industry standard monocular and binocular Night Vision devices including PVS 7, PVS 14 and PVS 15.
07 Mar 14. Israeli Air Force equips Apache helicopters with new sensors. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is integrating two new systems in AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters in an effort to help enhance the aircraft’s ability to defend against threats. Israeli Air Force headquarters’ weapons systems unit official major Yonatan was quoted by FlightGlobal as saying that the systems are designed to detect the threat posed by missiles equipped with infrared (IR) or radar seekers. The systems are “based on the huge operational experience of the force in using the Apache Longbow in a variety of combat scenarios”, Yonatan added, without providing additional details. The new sensors have already completed a series of test flights in recent months, and series installation is expected to commence shortly. The introduction of the expanded self-defence capability represents a part of a wider air force effort to make the AH-64D the premier tool for performing precision strike missions. Apache Longbow pilot Lieutenant N said, “This is the ultimate war machine for short- and long-range precision missions.” The Israeli Apaches are armed with Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missile, besides a range of other air-to-surface missiles, some of which were manufactured by local companies. In addition to this, the aircraft are fitted with advanced systems that enable aircrews to communicate with ground based forces. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
07 Mar 14. DARPA seeks high-power UV laser for detecting chemical and biological threats. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is requesting proposals for compact, efficient and low-cost deep-UV lasers for detecting highly deployable biological and chemical agents as part of its Laser UV Sources for Tactical Efficient Raman (LUSTER) programme. The programme seeks the creation of a new class of UV lasers that are 300 times smaller and ten times more efficient than existing lasers, and can either be used in current detection systems to save size, weight and power, or in new, smaller and more sensitive systems. DARPA programme manager Dan Green said that the existing standoff detection systems are large and heavy, and require trucks for movement. The programme aims to consider a multitude of technical approaches, as long as they operate within a 220NM to 240NM wavelength (deep UV), and have greater than 1W power production, wall-plug efficiencies greater than 10% and line widths less than 0.01NM. LUSTER seeks the development of a new laser technology with the accuracy of existing expensive lasers but wi