Thales introduces the first products of a new family of electro-optic sensors that will significantly improve AAW (Anti-Air Warefare), ASuW (Anti Surface Warfare) and Situational Awareness for navies world-wide, thereby enhancing self-protection of their surface fleets. Unlike traditional IRSTs (Infra-Red Search & Track), which mechanically scan through 360°, the new Thales electro-optic family utilises multiple static sensor heads incorporating large IR focal plane arrays, an advanced optical design and dedicated processing algorithms on COTS processing hardware to provide enhanced ship self-protection, particularly in the littoral environment. The use of staring cameras increases the update rate of detections and reduces both on-board and ashore maintenance effort. The fully passive infrared surveillance systems are not exposed to jamming, provide improved situational awareness and the capability to automatically detect and track fast, agile and stealthy air threats simultaneously with surface asymmetric threats. Through the distributed, static sensor heads design ARTEMIS and GATEKEEPER provide operational, platform integration and support benefits and complement a balanced sensor suite along with radar and electronic warfare.

ARTEMIS uses MWIR cameras and is dedicated to detecting small air targets at extended ranges, while retaining an impressive surface detection capability. GATEKEEPER uses a combination of LWIR cameras and high resolution colour TV cameras, making it an ideal sensor for the detection and classification of asymmetric, close range, surface threats in a tense security environment. Thales has been awarded a contract by Armaris for the development and manufacture of ARTEMIS for the French Navy's multi-role frigate (FREMM); it is the first ARTEMIS contract awarded to Thales. The contract includes the design, manufacture, trials, acceptance and initial support of IRST systems for up to 17 French Navy FREMM frigates. Pierre-Yves Chaltiel Thales Senior Vice-President Communication and Optronics said, "This contract represents a significant breakthrough for our Naval business and we expect that a number of other navies will now follow France in adopting ARTEMIS to enhance self-protection of their surface fleets".