Today, military operations in the special operation zone are conducted around the clock and are impossible without the use of thermal imaging equipment that ensures effective operation at night. The UAV400T drone with a domestic thermal imager for all-weather reconnaissance purposes was one of the first to be used in SVO.
Vitaly Serov, chief designer of the Astron Optical and Mechanical Design Bureau, spoke about the modernization of existing complexes and the development of technologies in an interview with TASS before the start of the Army-2024 International Military Technical Forum (which will be held on August 12-14 in Kubinka).
— Vitaly Vitalievich, what will the Astron Design Bureau present at the Army 2024 forum? Can I tell you about the features and main technical characteristics of the products?
— The forum will feature optoelectronic complexes, including the "Checkpoint-T", which allows for reconnaissance and targeting at any time of the day. The thermal imaging reconnaissance complex has the ability to strike and is able to work out the target with a drone. The product is mass-produced and sent for use in the area of its own in the amount of thousands of copies.
In addition, at Army 2024, for the first time we will show the Astron-3B optical-electronic complex for infrared observation at a range of up to 12 km with passive coordinate calculation. The complex can be used autonomously or integrated into security systems for facilities, borders, territories, water areas and airspace. The product provides detection and tracking of various objects, including around the clock.
The Astron-1K120, the smallest thermal imager on a rotary platform with a range of 5 km, will also be shown. In addition, we will present an unmanned aerial vehicle with a domestic thermal imager "Kurs-800TB" and shock drones of the "Granat" series equipped with a thermal imager, a television camera and capable of operating at a distance of up to 13 km with a repeater drone.
Our company is primarily focused on the continuous in-depth improvement of our developments so that they show maximum efficiency, solve today's tactical tasks and ensure maximum unobtrusiveness of operators using our equipment.
In particular, on the Kurs-800TB UAV, we are installing new control channels with frequency tuning, and we are transferring video transmitters to a new operating mode, which has less visibility for enemy radio intelligence and greater noise immunity. The refinement of our repeaters also allowed us to fly 15-17 km towards the enemy under the influence of electronic warfare.
— How does the reconnaissance thermal imaging complex with intelligent video analytics "Checkpoint" in the special operation zone perform? Is it possible to assess the degree of effectiveness of the product? What feedback do you get from the customer and the military?
— The thermal imaging complex "Checkpoint-T" has fully justified its purpose and is used by units to identify and eliminate threats to our positions.
— What is the modernization potential of the Checkpoint complex?
— The modernization potential of the complex is almost unlimited due to the modular composition of the product. Simply put, we can widely change the detection range, radio communication capabilities, and the functionality of the complex itself, depending on tactical tasks. In particular, we are currently working on turning the complex into a full-fledged reconnaissance and target designation station that can provide coordinates to weapons of destruction. In addition, there have been proposals to modernize the complex to counter enemy drones, and there is already some practical experience.
— To which foreign countries is the Checkpoint being delivered now?
— Until the needs of the Ministry of Defense for our surveillance equipment are met, there is no need to talk about exports.
— How many UAV400T devices, nicknamed "flying thermal imager", are currently used in special operations? In February, it was reported that the device received lenses with increased resolution. How much has this modernization changed the nature of the work? Is it now possible with the help of the UAV400T to identify objects and targets that previously could not be tracked?
— We have no right to disclose the exact amount. Today there are hundreds of devices. During the modernization you mentioned, we managed to improve and stabilize the image. The probability of detection and destruction by dropping [ammunition] has increased from about 50% to 90%.
Currently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, on behalf of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, is taking measures to purchase components for FPV drones. Astron Design Bureau participates in this program as a supplier of domestic thermal imaging cameras.
— Will the modernization of the UAV400T be continued? What characteristics of the device do the specialists of the Astron Design Bureau plan to work on in order to improve it?
— The situation at the front is changing every day.
— Earlier it was also reported about the use of UAVs "Garnet", "Garnet-PG". Have there been any upgrades to these devices?
— These products are already used in their own production, although official departments do not order these drones yet. Our shock complexes are also receiving new communication channels, a repeater has appeared and is constantly being upgraded, and a course television camera has appeared on the drone itself.
— Do the specialists of the Astron Design Bureau carry out analytical work on thermal imaging equipment currently used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine? Does the enemy use any means that are technologically ahead of the capabilities of Russian products?
— Of course, such work is being carried out. In general, the technical level of foreign and our equipment is the same.
In unmanned vehicles, the enemy widely uses Starlink terminals, which are difficult to counteract electronic warfare. But there will be an answer to this, the victory will be ours.
