THALES PARTNERS WITH GIAT TO SUPPLY THE DAY/NIGHT PERISCOPE

8 Jul 02. Following a tender from GIAT Industries (France), Thales Angénieux has been selected to supply the Day/Night Periscope for the new VBCI infantry fighting vehicle, one of the French infantry main modernisation projects (550 vehicles by 2011).

This contract completes the one already signed on June 18th by Thales Optronique to supply the gunner’s sight to be also fitted on the VBCI fighting vehicle.

The Day/Night Periscope is devoted to the observation. For the night operations it uses an Image Intensifier module which is one of the main field of expertise and business of Thales Angénieux.

For this development, Thales Angénieux built a new partnership with GIAT Optique in St Etienne. As part of the work-share, Thales Angénieux is responsible for the technical design of the equipment.

“Thanks to this program, Thales Angénieux consolidates its position in the field of Image Intensifier equipment, which offers to the end user one of the best current trade-off in terms of cost/performance. In addition, the partnership with GIAT in St Etienne (Optsys) is very promising in the field of light armoured vehicles including for export” said Bernard Rocquemont, Senior Vice President of Thales.