GOES-321M (337M): the first presentation in Russia

The presentation of a new system, designed for installing in the Mi-17 combat helicopters, was first conducted in February 2009 at the Aero India show in Bangalore by the Ural optical and mechanical plant (UOMZ) jointly with the FSUE “Rosoboroneksport” and the OJSC “Russian helicopters”. The scanning and sighting system which is based on the GOES-321M (337M) enables to perform day and night all-weather object searching and scanning, target detection and recognition, application of unguided armament and air weapons, ensure the helicopter landing on unequipped pads.

‘Our presentation has made a significant impression on the Commander in Chief and the Head of the Indian Air Force Headquarters,’ said V.S. Elinson, the Deputy General Director of the Ural enterprise, after completion of the Indian exhibition. ‘A contract for the supply of a large lot of Mi-17 Russian helicopters to India was signed in 2008. After acquaintance with our optical and electronic system at the show, the Head of the Indian Air Force Headquarters has assured us that if the corresponding offer was received from Rosoboroneksport, he would support the installation of the GOES-321M (337M) on the Mi-17,’ stated V.S. Elinson

According to the results of the negotiations between S.V. Maksin, the General Director of the FSUE “PA “UOMZ”, and A.P. Isaikin, the General Director of the FSUE “Rosoboroneksport”, held in February 2009, a protocol was signed which specifically indicates the intention of Rosoboroneksport to send a commercial proposal on the upgrade of the Mi-8/17 and Mi-24/35 helicopters correspondingly with the GOES-321M (337) and OPS-24 optical and electronic systems manufactured by UOMZ, to the governing body of the Air Force of the Republic of India.

In the recent years, UOMZ has entered the world market with a large series of civil optical surveillance systems. Application of military technologies and original design solutions ensure competitiveness of the products of the Ural enterprise. The UOMZ optical surveillance systems are implemented based on the gyrostabilized platform, which comprises high-definition optical and electronic sensors. These systems allow to obtain high-quality and stable image in all survey modes, during day and night time, under restricted visibility conditions, carrier tossing and vibration. They are installed on air, marine and land carriers, as well as stationary surveillance stations. The Ural optical and mechanical plant presents several up-to-date specimens of the optical surveillance systems at the HeliRussia-2009 show.

The SON 730 is one of the promising developments in the line of similar class products. The engineering solutions applied for its development enable to significantly enhance the performance and reduce weight and dimensioning specifications in comparison to the previous analogues. The SON 730 is the lightest of “long-range” systems. With the weight of 25 kg, it enables to perform detection of objects at the distance of up to 10 km.

The SON-MR is the new generation of civil optical surveillance systems. A number of principal features distinguish it from the previous analogues. Firstly, the article mass was significantly reduced. Secondly, the requirement for continuous rotation in the azimuth plane, accepted worldwide, was met in the SON M. Thirdly, the article design is based on the modularity principle which supports quick replacement of information sensors immediately in the field use conditions.

The main feature of the SON 820 and SON 910 civil optical surveillance systems, also presented at the HeliRussia-2009, is their small dimensions and weight. The SON 820 system, first demonstrated to the audience in the summer of 2008 at the Farnborough show in Great Britain, can be installed on unmanned air vehicles of airplane and helicopter type, as well as aeronautic complexes. The system weight does not exceed 4 kg. The SON 820 incorporates two information sensors, if demanded by the customer, the system is equipped with the set of a laser range finder, television and thermal imaging sensors.

The SON 910 is a miniature system with the weight not exceeding one and a half kg. It can be equipped with a television or thermal imaging sensor. This system is also intended for installing on the unmanned air vehicles.

It should be noted that civil optical surveillance systems have a large application field. They can be used by the police forces and special services when patrolling border areas, for antiterrorist activity and to control the drug trafficking. Another direction of such system application is the monitoring of electric lines, gas and oil pipelines, road traffic. Capabilities and characteristics of optical surveillance systems may vary depending on the client specific requirements.