Description:
Sophie is a low-weight, handheld, multi-application, binocular, thermal imaging night vision camera designed for use by a wide range of military customers at day/night and all-weather conditions. It offers high-performance using second generation infrared technology ( 8-12 micrometers ) in a lightweight and compact design with exceptional ease of use. The 8-12 micrometers band is immune to fire, smoke, fog and reflected sunlight. Sophie utilizes the 288 x 4 CdHgTe detector array. External video and control interfaces allow this camera to operate autonomously from safe ranges.
More than 6,600 Sophie cameras have been sold to 45 customers worldwide for surveillance, combat and peacekeeping missions. The French Navy, Army and Air Force are the largest operator with around 1,600 cameras delivered or on order. It is well suited for infantry needs enabling detection of tanks at ranges of over 3,000 meters.
The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) placed an order for 600 new generation Sophie cameras on January 27, 2005. These cameras will be delivered to the French Army, Navy and Air Force. The new generation Sophie has a built-in image stabilization system and 25 percent greater range than previous models. As of 2005, Thales was working on new improved multi-function Sophie variants featuring GPS, an eye-safe laser rangefinder, direction finder and laser pointer. Multi-function Sophie was intended to add target acquisition, location and designation to Sophie capabilities.
Specifications Dimensions: Height 110 mm, Length 310 mm, Width 250 mm
Weights: Max Weight 2.4 kg (5.3 lb)
Operators
France / 1,600
Image Gallery
Notes (*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
France / 1,600