, HAIFA, Israel: Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd is developing an advanced Naval IRST system that will enable a naval vessel to automatically locate and pinpoint threats and targets located around it without being exposed to enemy systems.
The system, dubbed Sea Spotter, is a new generation (third generation) infrared staring system that is capable of automatically locating both surface and airborne targets, super sonic and slow, very small targets above and around the vessel, from horizon to zenith and transferring the data to the ship's combat system for interception.
Based on infrared sensors, the Sea Spotter is a completely passive system. Unlike electromagnetic radar systems, it does not emit any signals, so that as part of its situational awareness, it can “see” but not be seen without emitting any beams and without giving away the ship's position.
The overall target and battle arena image that is produced by the Sea Spotter is able to locate such threats as surface-to-surface missiles, super sonic and sub sonic sea skimming missiles, combat aircraft, gliding bombs, ARM weapons helicopters, ships, small target vessels such as a submarine periscope and/or terrorist threats like jet skis.
Previous generation IRST systems suffered from a high false alarm rate, which makes them inefficient and useless. Third generation systems such as the Sea Spotter are based on a continuous staring sensor (not a scanning sensor), which coupled with suitable image processing algorithms, greatly decreases the number of false alarms to a rate of one false alarm per 24 hour period.
The Sea Spotter system is designed for all naval vessels and is based on two specific patents and on an image processing ability that is one of Rafael's leading capabilities. The patents are in the field of time sharing between a few telescopes in a high frame rate and a central close cycle cooling system.
Rafael designs, develops, manufactures and supplies a wide range of advanced defense systems. These leading edge products include naval, air and ground precision weapons, electro-optic systems, electronic warfare (EW) systems, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) systems, acoustic defense systems, armored protection and training systems.
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