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.”
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.
Flight Global Jun 19, 07
