Infrared Systems Protect UK Navy Ships at Sea

International manufacturer of panoramic infrared thermal imaging systems HGH Infrared Systems was selected by the British Navy to incorporate its Spynel-S 3500 into an integrated Compact Combat System (C2S) for situational awareness and ship-based protection against small fast inshore attack crafts (FIACs). 

 

The system has already been tested in trials in the U.K. and will be used in part toward securing war ships in perilous locations.

 

Leading the project is U.K.-based Qinetiq, research and technology group, who have paired HGH’s Spynel sensor alongside the SharpEye radar from Kelvin Hughes and a Chess Dynamics Sea Eagle providing electro-optical surveillance system, the innovative and modular design concept allows for a more mobile solution for afloat support ships or war ships.

 

The Spynel-S 3500 provides the infrared search and track component in the C2S which is housed on a standard ISO container to complete the fully integrated system. The open architecture design allows the Spynel-S to cohesively work with a PTZ, radar and AIS. 

 

Spynel is an all-weather solution for ship-based protection at sea or providing surveillance for ships docked at ports and has been previously deployed on French Navy war frigates for anti-piracy measures. With its constantly rotating sensor head, Spynel displays a full 360-degree panorama image with an impressive resolution of up to 120 Mpix. And with its near real-time imagery captured by the proprietary Cyclope software, the Spynel detects and tracks an unlimited number of targets night and day, including RHIBs, swimmers, wooden boats and larger ships, while built-in algorithms developed over a decade ensure that sea clutter-maritime life, waves, etc.-is eliminated.