Leopards will be soon equipped with thermal sights for night operations.

By Lt-Col Des McNicholas

The future looks bright for ADI and the Army’s 90 Leopard tanks, thanks to the signing of the Leopard Tank Thermal Sight (LTTS) contract with UK company Thales Electronics.

ADI will be Thales’ major subcontractor on the $36 million project, with most of the design work conducted at the Garden Island site in Sydney.

According to project manager Capt Iain Watt, the new sights herald a major improvement in the capability of the Army’s tank fleet.

“The Leopards will be able to detect and engage targets at night and in adverse weather conditions, giving commanders a formidable 24-hour fighting capability,” he said.

“Thales is the same company that makes the Challenger tank sights, and the British Army has just ordered a similar system for its Warrior and Scimitar fleets.”

On track to equip all operational tanks at 1 Armd Regt, ALTC and the School of Armour by late 2005, the project will test and evaluate pre-production models of the sight in mid 2003.

Capt Watt said the remaining tanks held in stocks would be fitted for the sights to enable a rapid upgrade to operational status.

“Once the fit-out is complete, we will be able to attach the full sights in less than two hours,” he said.

LTTS brings a major boost to ADI’s new optronics capability, which already provides repair and maintenance for the Army’s hand held Tasman thermal imagers.