POP Goes the Navy: EO Upgrade from IAI
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Israel Aerospace Industries’ Tamam Division has won a $15 million contract to supply electro-optical observation systems to the Israeli Navy as part of a comprehensive upgrade. The systems are based on the POP (Plug-in Optronic Payload) and MiniPOP systems, which will be integrated with ship weapons and navigation systems to improve the vessels’ battle capabilities, and allow 24/7, all-weather operations. IAI release.
IAI’s POP and MiniPOP systems are based on unique designs combining a plug-in “slice” system within a gyroscopically stabilized unit. The plug-in principle is the basis for system upgrades and improvements using more sophisticated electro-optical sensors, as the payload is able to host different slices containing a variety of sensor combinations such as Focal Plane Array (FPA) Thermal Imager (IR), color CCD, Laser Pointer and Laser range finder. The “slice” can be easily replaced in the field within minutes, without the need for special calibration or adjustment. POP family systems are typically used on aircraft, on UAVs, or mounted on small ships.
