Armoured vehicle commanders and gunners to receive surveillance superpowers
Armoured vehicles such as the Boxer are set to benefit from cutting-edge surveillance capabilities thanks to Thales' Panoramic Above Armour Gimbal (PAAG) system.
Equipped with cutting-edge sensors, lasers and artificial intelligence, PAAG is designed to give commanders and gunners a significant edge on the battlefield.
The suite of cameras and sensors, all stabilied on a gimbal, gives soldiers an unprecedented view of their surroundings.
At the heart of the PAAG is its state-of-the-art imaging systems and laser technology.
Dara Munro from Thales explained: "This is a very exciting technology because the type of camera it uses and the technology it uses, it cuts out the atmospheric conditions.
"So it works really well in high-humidity and high-temperature climates as well as on a Scottish day … where it’s rainy and cloudy and you can’t really see much visibility."
PAAG also incorporates artificial intelligence to boost its effectiveness on the battlefield.
Stewart Macpherson from Thales described the system’s "digital crew" as a set of algorithms that enhances existing equipment.
"One of the algorithms contained within it is an object-tracking algorithm," he explained.
"That means that if you have a subject of interest, a vehicle or a small drone that you want to keep within the field of view… the weapon system will follow that."
This feature is particularly valuable against fast-moving drones, which have become a significant threat in modern warfare.
"We've seen especially in Ukraine that these drones are very agile," he said.
"They move very quickly. It's very difficult for a human to keep a weapon system trained on that. The machine takes over that job and it will track the drone."
The PAAG system is designed to perform in a wide range of environments, and with its advanced optics, precision lasers and AI-driven tracking capabilities it offers a powerful upgrade for armoured vehicles.
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