Effective surveillance
Brian M Walters
Very different but equally important products are highlighted by Carl Zeiss Optronics on Stand 1313 where the latest aids to forward observers and vehicle-mounted peacekeepers are featured.
The company’s compact and lightweight stabilised panoramic observation and targeting system is expected to create significant interest at the show. Claimed to be ideal for light armoured vehicles engaged in volatile, peacekeeping operations, the new system has been selected by the German Army to equip its Puma IFV. It provides vital 360° surveillance and accurate ‘on the move’ targeting information to elevation angles of up to 80°. This will enable the Puma to support a variety of roles, including ‘hunter-killer’ interdiction, peacekeeping and convoy escort. Furthermore, the ability of the system to elevate to 80° means it could equally be used in an air defence capacity.
The system can accommodate an infrared night sight, a CCD day sight camera and laser rangefinder. A waterproofed version for naval applications is under development.
Exhaustively trialled in hot desert and wet temperate climates, the company’s Nestor is designed to enable forward observers and controllers to determine their own and the target’s position. Equally effective by day or night, Nestor is a single lightweight handheld device that gives users more flexibility and freedom than other disparate solutions. It is among the highlights on its stand.
Indeed, it allows observers to move confidently into unknown terrain with the security of an accurate and highly reliable system. Nestor’s glass channel is said to guarantee top quality daylight imaging with three times the range performance of the usual CCD daylight camera alternative – without consuming battery power. The nighttime infrared channel offers similarly high resolution and is extremely sensitive to minimal temperature differences between the target and its background environment.
Target positions located by Nestor are transferred to a fire control system via a data interface and all functions are controlled by user friendly menus, offering fast access and simple operation with a minimum of training.
 Accurate ‘on the move’ targeting for Puma |