Update: Thales to supply Mirador Mk 2 for new K 130 corvettes

Thales is to supply its latest Mirador Mk 2 electro-optical (EO) director for the German Navy’s second batch of K 130 corvettes, the company announced on 24 May.

Under contract to the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), Thales will deliver 12 Mirador Mk 2 systems for the K 130 programme. Each of the five new corvettes will be equipped with two Mirador Mk 2 systems for passive surveillance and fire control; the remaining two systems will be used as land-based test and training assets.

The original Mirador Eo director is already in service on the five Batch 1 K 130 corvettes. The second batch will receive the all-digital Mirador Mk 2. (Richard Scott/NAVYPIX)

The five K 130 corvettes already in service are equipped with the original version of the Mirador EO director. The new Mk 2 version introduces digital technology throughout to provide improved sensor performance (to enhance detection, recognition, and identification) and more accurate tracking data.

The digital sensor suite incorporated in the Mirador Mk 2 director comprises a cooled mid-waveband infrared (MWIR) camera, an HD TV colour zoom camera, and an eyesafe (Class 1M) laser rangefinder. An additional low-light near infrared camera is available as an option.

The specific sensor suite for the Mirador Mk 2 systems being delivered for the K 130 programme comprises a Thales Catherine XP MW MWIR camera, an HD TV colour zoom camera from Copenhagen Sensor Technology (CST), and a Laserdyne RangePRO laser range finder.

System deliveries will begin in 2020. Deliveries will complete in 2023.