NEW DELHI, May 19: French defence major Thales today said it has signed a contract with European firm Beltech to provide ‘Catherine’ thermal imaging cameras for India’s T-90 battle tanks.
As part of it, Thales is doing a transfer of production to integrate 260 compact LWIR thermal imaging (TI) Catherine into Beltech’s TI Sights that will be installed on the battle tanks.
India has about 850 T-90 tanks as of now.
The thermal imagers, used to target acquisition and weapon engagements by land vehicles, allow gunners, commanders and land recce observers to see by night and by day in adverse conditions.
More than 7,000 Catherine cameras are in service onboard 30 types of fighting vehicles globally, a statement by Thales said.
“The Catherine thermal imager is already in service with the Indian Army and this new order consolidates Thales leadership in optronic technologies in India,” it said.
The transfer of production of Catherine contributes to the ‘Make in India’ policy of the Indian Government, it said. (PTI)
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