Thales Optronics
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——Thales Optronics is a major unit of Thales Group and has three main subsidiaries:
- Thales Optronics Ltd. (UK)
- Thales Optronique SA (France)
- Thales Optronics B.V.
[edit] Thales Optronics Ltd.
Thales' optronics businesses in the UK are as a result of the acquisition of Pilkington Optronics. Pilkington Optronics was formed by Pilkington plc in 1988 to take control of the company's varied optronics businesses (formerly Pilkington Perkin Elmer/Pilkington PE and Barr and Stroud, Glasgow). Pilkington PE would later become Thales Optics Ltd., and - following divestment from Thales in December 2005 - now trades as Qioptiq Ltd (www.qioptiq.co.uk).
In 1988 Thomson-CSF acquired W Vinten Ltd, a British reconnaissance equipment manufacturer (now Thales Optronics (Bury St Edmunds) Ltd.)
In 1991 Thomson-CSF acquired a 50% share of Pilkington Optronics (PO). In 1995 PO acquired Thorn EMI Electro Optics which was renamed Pilkington Thorn Optronics (now Thales Optronics (Staines) Ltd).
- In 1998 Thomson-CSF purchased another 40% of PO from Pilkington and the remainder in 2000 to make it a wholly owned subsidiary. In 2000 Thomson-CSF was renamed Thales and Pilkington Optronics Ltd. became Thales Optronics Ltd.
[edit] Products
- Search and track
- PIRATE (Passive Infra Red Airborne Tracking Equipment) for Eurofighter Typhoon
- Rafale FSO/OSF IRST systems
- IRST systems
- Self protection systems
- Laser Warning Receivers
- Laser countermeasures
- Laser range finders
- Sighting systems
- Reconnaissance systems
- Submarine Periscope Systems including the latest non-hull penetrating Optronics Masts systems
- Electro-optic aircraft reconnaisance pods and image exploitation stations
- AFV Fire Control and Navigation systems
