Thales Unveils Geolocalisation System for Soldiers Engaged in High-Intensity Combat

Thales announced today it is introducing VisioLoc, a system designed to enable land forces to generate precise geolocation coordinates in any environment, even when no satellite signal is available.

The new function is used with the Sophie Optima and Sophie Ultima hand-held thermal imagers to provide tactical and special forces units with a unique combat capability in hostile environments while optimising the size of the equipment used and reducing the weight burden on the soldier. Using these two, a section leader can make a positive ID on the target, and in a few simple steps determine its precise coordinates, without having access to a GNSS signal, and call-in fire support.

Thales claims the geolocation coordinates are so precise that an artillery unit can process the information directly and engage the target straight away to provide critical fire support for the front-line unit. VisioLoc dispenses the need for fire adjustment procedures, which can currently take up to 20 minutes.

Once the section leader has called in fire support, the VisioLoc function reduces the time it takes for an artillery unit to engage the target by a factor of three or even four.

Weighing less than 3kg, VisioLoc can be set up simply (on a tripod or hand-held) in under four minutes.