Combining forces to enhance ground surveillance operations

Ground surveillance capabilities play a more important role than ever for monitoring enemy movements on the battlefield and gathering detailed threat intelligence early enough to engage a target while keeping allied units safe. Security services rely on similar capabilities to prevent illegal border crossings, combat drug trafficking and protect critical infrastructure such as railway networks.

But traditional sensors cannot provide the wide-area coverage and mobility required. They struggle to keep up with evolving tactics used by adversaries and intruders. And drones also pose a growing threat, requiring innovative ways to detect even the slightest movement, rapidly classify low-flying threats and positively identify potential targets.

Current solutions often remain difficult to transport and slow to deploy, and often lack reliability in extreme conditions and contested electromagnetic environments. 

Today's systems need to be optimised for size, weight and power (SWaP), portable and quick to set up, integrate readily with existing command networks – and above all, easy to use in challenging conditions.

Operational synergy in non-permissive environments

Working with operational users, Thales has developed a truly integrated solution that leverages the company's recognised expertise in radars, optronic sensors and command-and-control systems. The end-to-end solution optimises every phase of a surveillance operation, from the initial detection and classification of potential threats to the critical step of positive identification prior to engagement.

Our state-of-the-art solution combines the combat-proven Ground Observer 12 (GO12) manpack radar for automatic detection and tracking of mobile targets with the SOPHIE Ultima handheld thermal imager for day/night target identification. Data streams from both sensors are aggregated by the VENUS mobile command-and-control (C2) system and immediately shared with higher command levels. For extended range operations, linear surveillance or when geographical or weather constraints limit ground sensors, complementary sensors such as Thales's Noctua and Grizzly mini-UAS can be readily integrated within the same C2 system.

Automatic threat detection and classification

Designed to meet the demands of small, mobile, dismounted units, the GO12 manpack ground surveillance radar is the lightest and most advanced in its class. It can be transported easily, is fully operational in under five minutes, and requires only a single person for setup and operation.

The radar is optimised to detect, geolocate and track in real-time multiple ground targets, as well as low-flying aircraft including drones and helicopters. It can detect a pedestrian at distances of up to 10 km and vehicles at more than 20 km, while its single and multi-sector scanning modes provide continuous 360° wide-area coverage. Detected targets are automatically classified, with operator confirmation available via an integrated Doppler audio function. A single set of MOTS batteries ensures more than six hours of autonomous operation.

Target information is instantly displayed on the intuitive interface of the VENUS C2 system, easily shared with other sensors in one click and automatically integrated with the broader surveillance ecosystem.

Long-range positive identification

 Once a threat is detected and classified by the GO12 radar, the SOPHIE Ultima multi-function hand-held thermal imager collects detailed information on the potential target and its surroundings. Quick to set up by a single operator, SOPHIE Ultima offers decisive advantages, with more than twice the range of standard portable cameras and a broad 20° field of view allowing users to observe both the threat and its surrounding environment. Combining a Direct View Optic (DVO) with state-of-the-art cooled IR sensor technology, operators gain high-quality imagery for identifying camouflaged or concealed targets in both daylight and at night.

A standout feature is SOPHIE Ultima's infrared sensor with continuous optical zoom, enabling persistent observation of mobile targets in sight, from threat detection to positive identification, unlike standard thermal imagers with dual fields of view.

Accurate target geolocation and instantaneous information sharing

Equipped with a latest-generation laser range finder, SOPHIE Ultima delivers highly accurate target coordinates at ranges of up to 10 km. Operators can confirm the exact target position and share it instantly with the command structure via the VENUS C2 system – even in jammed or GNSS-denied environments, thanks to the advanced VisioPos visual positioning system.

The unique benefits of an end-to-end solution

While each system offers substantial standalone value, the true operational potential emerges through coordinated use. 

Thales's integrated solution meets the rigorous requirements of border control, critical infrastructure protection and battlefield surveillance. Quick to set up and easy to operate, this unique combination of ITAR-free, combat-proven equipment covers every phase of the surveillance mission – detection, classification and identification – under a unified command-and-control platform optimising deployment and enabling real-time data sharing for faster, better-informed command decisions.

For dismounted units in complex environments, Thales’s solution enhances both operational effectiveness and force protection. GO12 provides persistent, all-weather detection and classification capability, the foundation of effective surveillance, while SOPHIE Ultima delivers the detailed identification data required to turn detections into actionable intelligence. Together, they offer a winning combination empowering users to safeguard their most critical assets on and off the battlefield.