Thales to showcase high-tech gadgets at Bridex 2009

THE Brunei Darussalam International Defence Exhibition (Bridex 2009), which will be held from August 12 to 15, 2009, will feature state-of-the-art defence and security equipment currently available in today's world market.

One of the exhibitors is Thales Angénieux which specialises in high technology optics applied to broadcast and film industries, infrared and near infrared goggles and high precision modules. Thales Angénieux provides optics for defence systems, visual displays used in avionics, second surface mirrors and solar cell cover slides used for satellites and zoom lenses for cinema and television cameras.

The company's product lines include night vision goggles, infrared uncooled camera, binocular for stereoscopic vision, magnifier lenses, monocular intensifier equipment, surveillance and security lens. Thales Angénieux also manufactures optical elements for high-definition images, lenses for television, cinema, endoscopy, and optronic applications.

Its products find applications in surveillance and observation for military, civil applications, predictive maintenance, high voltage line inspection, medical imaging, fire fighting cameras, patrolling, night driving, mobility, localisation and target acquisition, fire control, driving, paramilitary, urban warfare, helicopter, land vehicle, boat, border surveillance, counter drug, customs, anti-terrorism, satellites missiles and process control.

Thales Angénieux is a subsidiary of the Thales Group of France which is the manufacturer and supplier of many electronic devices and equipment used by the French Armed Forces from its past as Thomson-CSF, including the "Spectra" helmet for the army and the gendarmerie. It has worked with Dassault Aviation on the Rafale and made its "Spectra" defensive aids. Thales often worked with DCNS and designed the electronics used on French ships, and it is involved in the construction of both the "Horizon" and "FREMM" programmes.

Thales is present in Eurosam as Thomson-CSF and was a founder of the consortium along Aérospatiale and Alenia Aeronautica. In February 2004, Thales was awarded a contract for a new command and control system for the French Navy, the SIC 21 that will be fitted on the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, many vessels and shore locations.

Additionally, the future French aircraft carrier involves Thales as the main designer of the ship. Thales is also working on X-ray imaging, finances, energy and operating commercial satellites.

Thales has a worldwide presence. Its large presence in the United Kingdom (largely as a result of the Racal acquisition) has resulted in several high profile contracts. The company's design won the competition for the Royal Navy Future Carrier (CVF).

Thales is part of the Airtanker consortium, the winning bid for the RAF's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft. Thales UK won the contract for the British Army UAV programme, Watchkeeper. It also produces the "Swarm" remote weapon station. (ALA) The Brunei Times