Visit the Stemmer Imaging web site

IR imagers deliver eye-in-the-sky vision

A CMC Electronics Cincinnati product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 8, 2004

CMC Electronics Cincinnati has completed initial deliveries of a series of high-performance, high-resolution infrared imagers for high and medium altitude reconnaissance.

CMC Electronics Cincinnati has completed initial deliveries of a series of high-performance, high-resolution infrared imagers for high and medium altitude reconnaissance.

The imager was first used to support the mission to identify and locate hostile troops and defensive positions during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The eyes of the mission were an F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet fighter aircraft stationed on the USS Nimitz that had been equipped with the upgraded SHARP reconnaissance pod.

A multi-sensor suite, the SHARP (or SHA red Reconnaissance Pod) allows the crews to monitor ground and sea activity, 24 hours a day, even in degraded atmospheric conditions.

This information can then be linked to the Battle Group Commander via a near-realtime data link.

CMC Cincinnati provides the infrared imager subassembly for the SHARP system.

The infrared imager, which is not affected by daylight or darkness, "sees" the heat emitted by an object and creates a video image from the natural radiant thermal energy.

The SHARP system produces a clear imaging scenario that permits the aircraft to fly at a safe standoff range.

This allows our forces to see beyond the range of hostile offensive weapons and create a projected force with outstanding intelligence capability.

"This was a major milestone for the SHARP program," said Captain Jeffrey Wieringa, former NAVAIR program manager for the F/A-18.

"The superior tactical reconnaissance SHARP provides enabled immediate response to time-critical targets.

I've talked with the crews from VFA-41 that have flown it - and they said it was, awesome." CMC Electronics Cincinnati developed the high-resolution infrared imager for the system under contract to Recon/Optical of Barrington, Illinois.

Philip Smith, Director Marketing, CMC, notes, "We are pleased that CMC's infrared imager contributed to the success of our mission in Iraq.

"The SHARP program is now recognised as a key contributor to future missions.

"The unique architecture of our camera design has allowed us to support the troops with the worlds' first mid-wave infrared 2Kx2K sensor".

Not what you're looking for? Search the site.

Back to top Back to top

Google Ads

 

Contact CMC Electronics Cincinnati

Related Stories

Contact CMC Electronics Cincinnati
Newsletter sign up

Request your free weekly copy of the Engineeringtalk email newsletter ...

Visit the Stemmer Imaging web site

Articles by product category

All suppliers A - Z

A Pro-talk Publication

A Pro-talk publication