Thales has been awarded a contract to supply the Canadian Army with its Sophie Ultima handheld thermal imagers.
The contract is part of Ottawa’s ongoing effort to modernize its military’s night vision capabilities to accurately detect and engage threats in low-light conditions.
In addition to the thermal imagers, the company will provide comprehensive in-service support under the agreement.
“Thales is committed to delivering advanced, reliable, and locally supported solutions like the Sophie Ultima,” Thales VP for Optronics, Missile Electronics, and Unmanned Air Systems Benoit Plantier noted.
Thales did not disclose the quantity of devices ordered or the total value of the contract.
However, it revealed that the device will be manufactured and maintained at its facility in Canada to further strengthen the country’s defense industrial base.
A Long-Range Solution
The Sophie Ultima thermal imager is marketed as a long-range device capable of detecting an enemy tank from up to 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away.
It features a wide field of view for early threat detection and an embedded geolocation capability to locate targets accurately, even in a GPS-denied environment.
Additionally, the device includes a high-resolution glass day channel and image fusion technology, providing unparalleled clarity in identifying targets at night.
Its continuous optical zoom allows operators to maintain visual contact with targets throughout the detection, recognition, and identification phases.
Once delivered, the Sophie Ultima will reportedly equip the Canadian Army with cutting-edge technology for complex operational environments.
