How DVE and LSA systems boost mission effectiveness, safety and survivability on today’s battlefield

How do crews operate safely in low visibility and high-threat areas? Thales’ DVE and LSA systems give them the tactical edge. 

DVE and LSA systems offer 360° vision, thermal imaging, and instant threat detection in order to operate safely with closed hatches.

Thales’ DVE and LSA systems are recognised internationally for providing tactical and combat vehicle commanders, drivers and crews with unparalleled sensitivity, image quality and situational awareness, allowing them to operate safely and effectively on the battlefield, day and night, in severely degraded conditions. 

The DVE/LSA capabilities on-board Infantry Fighting Vehicules (IFV) help protect against insurgency and external infiltration. Unit commander Adam’s IFV is usually assigned to border patrol duties. Tonight, however, following intelligence reports of a group of insurgents moving towards an urban area close to the border, the unit has been deployed on patrol duties at the edge of the city, in a sector comprising a mix of residential and industrial buildings. In addition to its three-man crew, the IFV is carrying a four-man infantry squad, also under Adam’s command. 

Adam is aware he may need to leverage all of his vehicle’s speed, manoeuvrability and firepower to complete his mission. He has complete trust in his vehicle's optronic sensors to help him achieve this mission, particularly in the Remotely Operated Driver Vision Enhancer (RODVE) and Remotely Operated Crew Vision Enhancer (ROCVE). The modules, mounted on the front, sides and rear of the vehicle as part of a multi-sensor suite, give Adam, as well as his driver, gunner and infantry passengers, a real-time all-round view when “driving blind” during closed-hatch and high-risk operations. In addition, high-quality scene video with ultra-low latency is relayed to the compact display and control modules (CDCMs) inside the vehicle. 

Packed with features for all-round operational effectiveness 

RODVE and ROCVE products are steerable vision enhancer modules with a fast, motorised panning mechanism which can be remotely controlled in pairs from a crew, or driver, and operated through the CDCM. Both types of modules are equipped with high-performance uncooled thermal imagers (ideal for tactical range use). Other shared features include a wide field of regard for responsive battlefield scanning, day and night operational effectiveness, superb image quality and scene detail, and a hermetic design with no exposed moving parts. 

Tactical Situational awareness 

Adam’s IFV moves slowly along a darkened residential street with all its hatches closed, using its thermal imaging sensors to scan down side roads, as well as ahead and behind the vehicle. Thanks to the ROCVE sensor's sensitivity, Adam is able to see two trucks carrying armed insurgents approaching rapidly from the left. Before Adam can engage with them, the trucks turn tail and head back towards the edge of town, leaving behind a member of their squad, who seams to have fallen from a truck and is now lying in the road. 

Continuously evaluating the tactical situation from the safety of the IFV, Adam decides to stop and pick up the casualty, who appears alive but injured. Before the infantry squad exits the vehicle, one of the most dangerous phases for any mounted soldier, Adam ensures that it is safe for them to do so by assessing the local area first and checking no further threats are present. The squad is then able to deploy safely to disarm and recover the injured prisoner. The IFV can now return to base, after having shared information on the incident with local commanders and other units nearby. 

Trust is key 

Adam and his team know that their vision enhancer modules have helped in keeping them safe and allowed them to complete their mission effectively. They were able to trust the live images in front of them to give them the information they needed, with no delay or black screen issues, enabling them to feel safe, act fast and gain a crucial tactical advantage.

See more, see faster: gaining a key tactical edge with HD 

In future, all of Thales’ uncooled thermal imaging sensors will take a further step ahead of the competition by incorporating 1280 x 1024 resolution HD detectors, a rarity in uncooled devices. HD detectors allow users to see better and further than the enemy. These next generation thermal imagers have 4X more pixels than VGA sensors, thus greater image definition, so that they can identify and respond to threats quicker in fast-moving symmetric or asymmetric scenarios, boosting their safety and survivability. 

Thales: the best choice for DVE and LSA solutions 

Thales offers armed forces and integrators customisable, high-performance, uncooled DVE and LSA solutions that incorporate the latest digital technology. Thales has a long and successful history of collaborating with armed forces from around the world, and have sold more than 10,000 systems in 20 countries. This track record, combined with our comprehensive development facilities and integrated repair/logistics capabilities, makes Thales' DVE/LSA solutions the best low-risk choice for our consumers. 

All types of armoured vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers and protected patrol vehicles, can be equipped with sophisticated driver vision enhancement and local situational awareness solutions from the Thales portfolio. For example, the Panoramic Above-Armour Gimbal (PAAG) combines LSA, DVE and targeting/surveillance capabilities in a singular device, allowing commanders and crews to have full visibility, make quick decisions, and act precisely, all whilst remaining protected in their vehicles. 

The feature-rich PAAG system packs a powerful punch for a compact, self-contained module that can be easily integrated onto military vehicles of any size. Its capable of 360-degree day/night vision, continuous zoom, image fusion, smart processing for assisted target detection/identification, eyesafe laser rangefinding, long-range stabilised sighting, and seamless handover from commander to gunner screens for safe and accurate weapon targeting. 

ANTARES is a breakthrough multifunction solution that combines local situational awareness and protection (via a built-in laser warning system) in a single sensor, capable of 360-degree early threat detection, suitable for use in urban environments as well as open terrain. 

The Minerva dual band sensor is a compact and versatile product, ideal for driver vision enhancement, rear or reversing camera applications, or general situational awareness. The module has a thermal imager integrated with a colour/low-light day camera, allowing enhanced visibility 24 hours a day in all weather conditions.