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Weapons analysis system designed for the South African Navy


Johannesburg, 17 Oct 2005

A weapons analysis system using specialised image processing and analysis technology, equipment and software, has been designed, manufactured and installed for the South African Navy by Thales Advanced Engineering, a Johannesburg-based digital video surveillance, data communications and image processing technology company.

The system enables the Navy to test and record the accuracy of its radar-tracking equipment with a specialised camera mounted on the barrel of a naval gun. The ballistic systems are disconnected and a target is tracked until the barrel points directly at it. The process is analysed by video to establish if the gun is at dead centre or another pre-determined point. If not, then appropriate adjustments are made.

Thales MD, Dr Bennie Coetzer, says that for land targets, the shell bursts are recorded to determine fuse proximity while for targets at sea, the splash of the shell entry is recorded.

"The system automatically conducts visual analysis and target tracking. It allows easy computation of errors using a specialised software solution and a dedicated workstation in order to make the required adjustments for pinpoint accuracy. The fundamentals of this technology also have many applications in the commercial security field," he says.

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Thales Advanced Engineering

Thales Advanced Engineering has specialised in the field of video processing and data communications since 1987. In particular Thales has concentrated on Defence Systems for the South African National Defence Force but has also built a strong presence in the commercial security and specialised imaging markets.

Thales has a history of performing as a partner in joint ventures with other companies. As such, it has provided the data communications and video processing functions for large artillery systems and unmanned airborne platforms. Thales has a strong technical design team and uses other military manufacturers to manufacture its products. Strong emphasis is put on quality assurance from the first stages of the design until manufacturing, which is always done by ISO 9000 accredited manufacturers.

Please visit http://www.thales.co.za/ for further information.