A Catherine for Russia: French IR for T-90 Tanks

T-90(click to view full) Thales has announced a contract with Russian state firm Rosoboronexport (amount undisclosed) for around 100 Catherine FC thermal imaging cameras, which will equip T-90 tanks of the Russian army as all-weather sights. Their qualification for deployment with the Russian armed forces is hailed by the Thales release as “a first in Russia for Western equipment.” The firm adds that: “This contract further reinforces Thales’s position as a partner to Russian industry in the field of defence optronics for land forces – a position achieved after many years of cooperation on export contracts. It also marks a decisive step forward in Thales’s commitment to extend its position in the Russian defence market…”