Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Eurosatory: Thales launches Sophie Ultima

Defence

Eurosatory: Thales launches Sophie Ultima

Thales is taking its Sophie range of thermal imagers to the next level at Eurosatory and presents for the first time Sophie Ultima, a lightweight very high-performance 4-in-1 thermal imager.

Above: The Sophie Ultima.
© Thales – François Guénet

The new product is ready for connected combat and augmented reality and will help to guarantee tactical superiority both night and day.

Sophie Ultima represents a new generation of 4-in1 thermal imaging devices for dismounted soldiers. It combines tactical binoculars, an infrared target locator, a daytime laser range finder and a teleconverter into a single piece of equipment, significantly reducing size and weight while delivering even higher performance. At 2.5 kg, Sophie Ultima meets the need to progressively reduce the weight of the equipment deployed by armed forces.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Providing significant tactical advantages at night, it makes target identification possible over distances at which competing equipment can only recognise the target type. Most importantly, Sophie Ultima also provides tactical advantages in daytime operations by combining a high-performance glass day channel with the detection capabilities of infrared imaging. Through its ability to detect body heat at ranges exceeding 1 Km, this technology will allow soldiers to de-camouflage potential enemy soldiers that would previously have been invisible to the naked eye.

With Sophie Ultima, Thales proposes a thermal imager with expanded functionality and augmented performance. This enables it to deliver the benefits of collaborative combat such as augmented reality in a digitalised theatre of operations. Soldiers are able to detect sooner and engage faster, and as a result, strikes are faster, safer and more precise.

The product architecture is fully modular to accommodate future operational requirements and technologies, and includes the new “eXtension” concept, a family of plug & play accessories for future capability upgrades.

Sophie Ultima offers a significantly reduced instruction, training and support footprint thanks to common user interfaces and shared maintenance solutions, while still ensuring that suitable equipment is available for each task and mission. The new Sophie family will cover the needs of operational units from squadron leaders to Special Forces.

Advertisement
Farsound RT Brain

In recent years, Thales has sold 15,000 Sophie thermal imagers in 55 countries. Jean-Pascal Arrou-Vignod, Vice President, Optronics, Thales, said: "The armed forces rely on Thales for its expertise in the connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity technologies that are key to their digital transformation. With Sophie Ultima, the soldier of the future will master the art of collaborative combat day and night."

 

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation LB 1
NATO DIANA expands network

Defence

NATO DIANA expands network

18 March 2024

NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) is significantly expanding its transatlantic network of accelerator sites and test centres - doubling in size to more than 200 affiliated sites - which includes five additional UK test centres.

DE&S partners with McLaren Racing to drive innovation

Defence

DE&S partners with McLaren Racing to drive innovation

18 March 2024

DE&S’ Future Capability Innovation team will collaborate with McLaren Racing to apply motorsport innovation, insights and a high-performance mindset into projects across DE&S and the wider MoD.

DE&S procures 14 extended-range Chinooks

Defence

DE&S procures 14 extended-range Chinooks

18 March 2024

The UK’s heavy-lift helicopter capability will be bolstered by the purchase by DE&S of 14 extended-range Chinooks H-47(ER), which will pump an estimated £151 million into the economy.

BAE Systems to continue US Navy MDC5ISR support

Defence

BAE Systems to continue US Navy MDC5ISR support

18 March 2024

The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth approximately $86 million to continue supporting its Mobile Deployable Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (MDC5ISR) programmes.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Rolls-Royce to open new offices in Cardiff and Glasgow

Defence

Rolls-Royce to open new offices in Cardiff and Glasgow

14 March 2024

Rolls-Royce Submarines have announced plans to open new offices in Cardiff and Glasgow to attract the best talent and meet growth in demand from the Royal Navy and the recent AUKUS announcement.

ODU to showcase AMC range at DPRTE 2024

Defence Events

ODU to showcase AMC range at DPRTE 2024

14 March 2024

ODU will be showcasing their latest military connector technology solutions at DPRTE - being held 27th March 2024 at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre - including their Advanced Military Connector (AMC) range.

Advertisement
Farsound RT Brain