I've mentioned Infantry carrying thermal imaging before (pointing at the UK armies systems), however it was decided against as the visual range would be far to excessive for a hand held unit.
Or that was the common assumption.
Taken from Soldier magazine.
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Vipir: Now you see it
PLATOON commanders in the Infantry should get their hands on a high-performance thermal imaging system later this year.Most of the 300 rugged and compact Vipir 2 units, which can be deployed in a hand-held role or mounted and bore-sighted to an SA80 rifle, will be delivered to infantry units to enhance their short-range observation assets.
The low-maintenance equipment, manufactured by Thales Optics Ltd, features an infra-red laser target designator which allows the user to indicate targets to other personnel using image intensifier goggles.
Thales was awarded the contract after it demonstrated the Vipir 2 could be used by a soldier to detect and recognise potential targets throughout a 24-hour period while conducting dismounted close combat.
Light and easy to use, the kit can detect a person at 1km and a fighting vehicle at 3km.
It weighs less than 1kg and features the latest low-power high-performance uncooled technology. Vipir 2 works off four AA lithium batteries, which give it more than six hours of use-time in freezing temperatures.
Among the organisations which have put the Vipir 2 to the test was the Infantry Trials and Development Unit at Warminster.
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