The AN/AAQ-27A allows pilots to see through darkness, smoke, haze,
and adverse weather.
The AAQ-27A is a third-generation, mid-wavelength infrared
(MWIR) imaging system that is in production for the U.S. Marine Corps' V-22
Osprey. It allows Osprey pilots to see through darkness, smoke, haze, and
adverse weather.
The system incorporates a state-of-the-art MWIR
indium-antimonide (InSb) staring focal plane array with 480 x 640 detector
elements. It has demonstrated superb image quality and range performance using
nondevelopmental, in-production components to provide higher resolution imagery
than current long-wavelength infrared systems. In addition, the staring sensor
eliminates the moving parts needed for scanning infrared sensors, providing
higher reliability that is estimated to be about 50 percent greater than that
of earlier generation systems. Without the scanning mechanism — typically a
scanning mirror and associated electronics — the staring sensor is smaller and
lighter. The total system weighs less than 90 pounds, including about 50 pounds
for the turret.
An AAQ-27A retrofit kit allows the upgrade of
fielded first-generation long-wavelength AAQ-16B systems. The nondevelopmental
items and design reuse features incorporated into this high performance FLIR
allow fielded systems to be easily retrofitted.
The AAQ-27A (3 FOV) is a three fields-of-view
version of the AAQ-27A. It is in production for the Royal Australian Navy's
Super Seasprite and Seahawk helicopters. This version enables pilots to fly and
navigate on low-level missions or detect and identify long-range targets from
higher altitudes.
*I seem to recall asking how planes and helicopters could crash into each other on the way to Iran. White Russians with Tesla Toys, perhaps? Bringing the Czar back in 2020? At least Mr. Putin would be gone.
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