U.S. Navy and Marine Corps leaders needed an electro-optical surveillance sensor system for applications like search and rescue, reconnaissance, and attack. They found their solution from FLIR Systems Inc. in Wilsonville, Ore.

FLIR is providing the company's BRITE Star II multi-sensor target designation system under terms of two Navy contracts collectively worth $192.6 million. The contracts - one for requirements and the other for deliveries - are from the Naval Surface Weapons Center Crane Division in Crane, Ind.

The BRITE Star II multi-sensor pod for aircraft, surface ships, and land vehicles, contains a thermal imager, daylight camera, as well as laser designator, laser rangefinder, and laser pointer.

The thermal imager is a 640-by-480-pixel indium antimonide infrared sensor that detects energy in the 3-to-5-micron wavelength; has a 30-degree field of view; and can provide 97X magnification. The system's daylight camera is a three-chip color CCD-TV sensor matched to the infrared sensor.

Together, the thermal imager, daylight camera, and lasers are in a 4-axis gimbal stabilized pod that provides 360-degree coverage. The BRITE Star II meets the guidelines of MIL-STD-810F and MIL-STD-461E, and operates in temperatures between -40 and 55 degrees Celsius.

FLIR will deliver the electro-optical systems to the Navy starting early next year, and finish in 2011. in early 2009 and be completed within 24 months of initial shipment. For more information contact FLIR Systems online at www.FLIR.com.