Combat Ships Getting Advanced Capabilities

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U.S. Navy littoral combat ships will soon be equipped with new sensor systems. Saffire III Electro-Optics Sensor Systems will supply the vessels with image stabilization, long-range and thermal imaging and color and low-light cameras.

The systems manufactured by FLIR Systems are useful in search and rescue operations, reconnaissance, border and coastal patrol and target identification. The multi-mission systems can be used in applications as diverse as land force protection, and long-range airborne reconnaissance.

Thousands of the ball-shaped systems, which attach to horizontal planes of a vessel or aircraft, have been affixed to helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, as well as on the shallow-water littoral combat ships.

The unit includes an optional sensor system for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear detection. 

Along with its image stabilization and long-range imaging capabilities, Star SAFIRE III features internal navigation for precise targeting, MWIR thermal imager, optional EO color and low-light cameras, and multiple laser payload options. The system is fully hardened for military fixed-wing and helicopter operations, and it operates continuously in all conditions – even while sitting on the tarmac with no airflow.

The sensor systems image blending capabilities combine critical spectral information from the IR imager with the image-intensified low-light camera or long-range spotter scope.

Work in the new $12.6 million contract is expected to be completed by August 2024.

In May, the company received a $48.1 million contract with the U.S. Army for reconnaissance vehicle sensor suite upgrades.