XTRAIM© : use case 1 for dismounted soldiers

How do dismounted soldiers stay alert, accurate, and protected at night? XTRAIM© gives every team member the edge they need. 

XTRAIM© turns every rifle into a full-spectrum day/night threat detector with IR and de-camouflaging technology.

XTRAIM© boosts dismounted soldiers' effectiveness with all-in-one day/night vision, de-camouflage (ing) and IR targeting in any condition.

Thales’s revolutionary XTRAIM© weapon sight brings powerful new capabilities for every team member. It not only boosts survivability, but mission effectiveness as well,  interfacing easily with night vision goggles. 

The dismounted patrol steps out into the clear, moonless night. The patrol leader has hammered home the message to his platoon that ambushes can happen in an isolated rural area on a dark night like this, where the only light comes from the stars twinkling above the arid hilltops. His team’s mission is to maintain a visible peacekeeping presence in the sector, while gathering information on activity by suspected insurgents. Local rules of engagement allow the team to open fire if they come into contact with hostile elements.    

All of the platoon members are equipped with night vision goggles (NVGs), as well as the new compact, lightweight XTRAIM© weapon-mounted sight, which combines standard red-dot sight functions with de-camouflaging and night firing capabilities provided by a built-in infrared (IR) detector.  

Rather than being clipped on and off, like a conventional night sight, the rail-mounted XTRAIM©, weighing less than 500 g, and compared to the classic night sight, is paired with a typical red-dot sight plus an IR clip-on arrangement, saving  around 350 g. The uncooled IR detector (equipped with an innovative correction algorithm that reduces thermal “noise” continuously and automatically) can simply be switched on when required with the push of a button. 

The compactness, lightweight and ease of use of the XTRAIM© sight signify that, instead of the de-camouflaging and night-vision firing capabilities being confined to one or two members of a dismounted team, as was often the case in the past, every single member of the platoon can now carry the sight on their weapon. 

A step change in platoon survivability  

Everyone within the team is conscious of the precious increase in the survival rate that the XTRAIM© sight brings : when everybody in the patrol can access the full range of their weapons both day and night (typically around 350 to 450 metres for an assault rifle or light machine gun), the platoon’s firepower is given a massive boost, and enemies can be identified, engaged and neutralised more effectively, while maintaining the crucial element of surprise. The sight can also be used with a 3x magnifier to boost its range.   

Dismounted soldiers equipped with any type of night vision goggle (such as Thales’s Nellie or Minie NVGs) are simply able to look through the XTRAIM© sight while wearing the goggles, to benefit from the fusion of image intensification and infrared capabilities, whilst maintaining a high level of situational awareness. 

De-camouflaging capabilities leave nowhere to hide 

As the patrol approaches a small patch of woodland alongside a track, shots ring out from among the trees. The platoon drops behind a low wall at the edge of a field. This appears to be the ambush that they had been warned about. 

Sweeping the area through their night vision goggles and XTRAIM© sight from the safety of cover, the platoon spots a group of figures moving towards them through the trees. The heat signature detected via the XTRAIM© sight uncovers the figures, despite their concealing foliage. 

The patrol leader gives the order to return fire, ensuring that the insurgents, clearly visible to all platoon members thanks to the new sight, are quickly neutralised at a range of 250 metres. The platoon emerges unscathed and is able to continue its mission. Even if the insurgents had managed to approach within close range, the XTRAIM© sight's very large eyepiece and reflex firing capabilities would have enabled quick and accurate neutralisation.

Joining forces 

Thales sought input from potential users on a regular basis throughout the design process for the XTRAIM© all-in-one sight. Based on mission requirements specified by users, for example, the IR detector offers a full seven hours of autonomy in IR mode, thanks to the sight’s innovative processor, which combines compactness with low power consumption, enabling users to maintain their firepower throughout the night, a genuine breakthrough for soldiers in the field. 

In addition to this deep understanding of users essential needs, Thales’ optronics expertise was also a key factor in the design of the new product: the unique patented all-in-one architecture combining a direct-view optical day channel and a thermal sight, developed by Thales’ optical design teams, forms the beating heart of the Xtraim. 

Transforming performance 

The patrol leader and his platoon would be the first to agree that the XTRAIM© all-in-one day/night sight has the power to transform their performance in the field. The sight delivers a vital change in survivability and mission effectiveness by giving de-camouflaging and night firing capabilities to every member of the platoon, allowing threats to be engaged at full weapon range by multiple shooters.

The IR detector allows targets to be uncovered in the daytime by superimposing an outline or full IR heat trace on the image viewed via the direct-view optical day channel (which enables a high level of situational awareness, and includes a configurable digital reticle with 500 hours of autonomy). The ability to de-camouflage during the day is a key differentiator. 

All these features, and more, are packed into a product that is very close to a simple reflex sight in terms of size and weight, but offers firing through the night. Additionally, it offers an outline of, or full, IR day uncovering thanks to DVO/IR fusion, making it significantly easier for dismounted platoon leaders to keep their soldiers safe while on patrol in hostile territory.